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Elder Abuse Prevention & Intervention

CareWell Services Southwest collaboratively facilitates an elder abuse coalition with the goal of increasing community awareness, education activities, coordination of prevention & intervention, and increasing reporting of elder abuse in Calhoun and Barry counties.

CEASE (Coalition Empowering Against Senior Exploitation) has members representing financial services, senior service providers, law enforcement, adult protective services, advocacy organizations, legal services and private sector business leaders.

Thousands of cases of elder abuse are likely to occur each year in Calhoun County and yet, elder abuse often goes unreported. In fact, only a small fraction of elder abuse incidents are reported each year, leaving seniors vulnerable to continued abuse.

There are many types of elder abuse. Here are some examples.

  • Finance or material exploitation is the illegal or improper use of another’s funds, property, or assets.
  • Physical abuse is the actual or threatened use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, pain or impairment.
  • Sexual abuse is the non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an older adult.
  • Emotional or psychological abuse is the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts.
  • Neglect is the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties to an elder. It also includes self-neglect that results in the risk of harm or injury.
  • Abandonment is the desertion of a person by an individual who has assumed responsibility for providing care, or by a person with physical custody of an elder.
  • Stealing or withholding medications or food can also qualify as Elder Abuse, exploitation, physical abuse, or neglect.

Visit the National Center on Elder Abuse website for more information on elder abuse.

If you suspect that someone you know is a victim, call the Michigan Adult Protective Services hotline at (855) 444-3911. All calls are confidential.

R.S.V.P. by calling Val at 269-441-0917 or emailing vbarnaby@carewellservices.org

Resources on Elder Abuse/Scams

Below are links for a variety of educational information on topics related to elder abuse and scams.

Resources on Hoarding

Up to 5% of the population hoards.  Below are some resources to help you address this complex issue of self-neglecting behavior.

Information on Hoarding: http://hoarding.iocdf.org/ 

Info includes a FREE facilitator’s guide for the “Buried in Treasures” Self-Help Workbook for Hoarding plus resources to help you develop a local OCD/Hoarding support group: http://hoarding.iocdf.org/self_help.aspx#buried

The Clutter Image Rating is a tool that helps standardize definitions of clutter by showing a series of images depicting rooms in various stages of clutter, and can be used to evaluate degree of hoarding in a home without actually going into the home. 

Download the CIR Tool here: http://www.philadelphiahoarding.org/resources/Clutter%20Image%20Rating%20Scale.pdf

Includes info on how animal hoarding contributes to COPD/Asthma due to poor air quality/ammonia; zoonotic disease risks from pests and infestations, and info on Diogenes Syndrome for persons living in filth/squalor: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2583418/

Older Americans' Services at Risk

The President has proposed a FY 2026 budget plan to break apart the coordination and delivery of programs and services provided by the Older Americans Act (OAA).

Seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers rely on these services for their health, independence, and wellbeing. These critical services include in-home help with chores, dressing, and bathing; rides to the doctor; home-delivered and community-served meals; caregiver respite, and more.

The budget proposal eliminates several key programs to help older adults remain healthy, prevent falls, manage chronic diseases, navigate Medicare, find aging and disability resources, and stay safe if they are living in nursing homes. The proposal would also eliminate efforts to prevent or address elder abuse. These cuts will affect the programs CareWell Services provides to help seniors, caregivers, and adults with disabilities across southwest Michigan.

The proposed deconstruction of the OAA will severely impact the ability of older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers to get the services and supports they need to maintain their health and independence while living at home and in the community.

Take action to protect vital programs and services for seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers by contacting your representatives!

Get contact information for your representatives online at: house.gov and senate.gov.

Want more information?

Contact CareWell Services at 269-966-2450 or at info@carewellservices.org.

Policy Board Meeting Notice

Next meeting is:

Monday June 23, 2025 at 5:30 pm

Meeting will be held at:

CareWell Services Southwest

200 W Michigan Ave., Suite 102

Battle Creek, MI 49017

(800) 626-6719

 
For more information on our Policy Board please click on the button below: