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Recognizing Abuse

Warning Signs of Battering Behavior


The following are some signs of abuse to be aware of in a relationship. Recognizing the signs could help you stay safe. Someone who is abusive may:

  • Act jealous or possessive and say it is out of love.

  • Blame you for their behavior, saying "you're making me do this to you."

  • Destroy or threaten to destroy your things.

  • Threaten to hurt you, themselves, your family members, your friends, or your pets.

  • Touch you in a way that hurt or scares you, or in any way that you do not want to be touched.

  • Force sex or sexual acts in ways or at time that are not comfortable for you.

  • Threaten to report you to immigration or to destroy your papers.

  • Get angry unpredictably or in a way that scares you.

  • Refuse to take responsibility for their own behavior. Instead, blames you, others, alcohol, stress, depression, etc.

  • Belittle or make fun of your concerns and fears about your relationship.

  • Threaten to "out" you to family, friends or work.

  • Act like "Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde" by showing different personalities or acting differently in public than in private.

  • Isolate you by making it difficult or impossible to be with your family or friends.

  • Threaten to take your children and claim you won't see them again.

  • Make promises to change but does not follow through.

  • Force During Arguments

  • Anger Easily When Drinking or Using Other Drugs

  • Accuses You of Being Unfaithful

  • Controls All Finances

Elder Abuse

The primary mission and philosophy of the Placer County's District Attorney's office is to preserve public safety, enhance the quality of life in the county, prosecute criminals, assist victims and survivors and protect the health and well being of all citizens.

To carry out this mission and philosophy to protect our older citizens The Placer County District Attorney's Office has established many special programs to serve the Elder population of Placer County and the region.

The Placer County District Attorney is one of the first local prosecutors in the country to take a leadership role to establish a special unit in the office with specially trained staff to develop programs designed to provide information to our elder citizens and there families and to aggressively prosecute those who dare to take advantage of our senior citizens.

To insure optimal service, education and protection of elder citizens the District Attorney has established a comprehensive and collaborative plan to protect elders, prevent abuse to elders and provide education to elders and their families. This comprehensive collaborative effort is known as CAMET. The Community And Multidisciplinary Elder Team. The agencies listed on this page have pledged cooperation to use best efforts to serve elder citizens and their families.

This web page is one small part of our collaborative and comprehensive efforts to provide education and information to our citizens so that crimes against elders can be prevented. This web page will also provide information for the reporting of abuse or even suspicious circumstances related to our elder citizens.

Abuse of Elders falls into two general categories: Physical abuse and Financial abuse. Neither will be tolerated in Placer County.

The now popularized notion of the "Greatest generation" only serves to confirm that we have an obligation to insure that our elder citizens enjoy the quality of life they so richly deserve. In Placer County the security and the many pleasures of growing older will not be undermined by criminals. We hope you will familiarize yourself with all of the information provided so that you can join the Placer County District Attorney's office in the fight against Elder abuse. We want our citizens and their families to enjoy the senior years as much as possible and we will continue to work to ensure that they do.

Please review the information available at this site and its many links. We believe that this information will allow you and those that you love to avoid all forms of elder abuse.

If you suspect or want to report Elder Abuse, call the Lincoln Police Department (916) 645-4040) 24 hours per day or Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and/or to the District Attorney's Victims Services Center Elder Abuse Unit at (530) 886-2271. If it is an emergency please dial 911.

WHAT IS ELDER ABUSE?

Abuse is intentionally causing pain, suffering, and/or injury to a vulnerable adult. Abuse can be physical, mental, or sexual.

WHO IS CONSIDERED A VULNERABLE ADULT?

Any adult 60 years or older who cannot take care of him/herself is considered a vulnerable adult. Other adults considered vulnerable are 18 years or older and:

  • Have a legal guardian;

  • Have a developmental disability;

  • Live in a facility licensed by DSHS/ADSA;

  • Receive services from a DSHS contracted individual provider;

  • Receive in-home services through a licensed health, hospice, or home care agency;

  • Have a personal care aide who performs care under his/her direction for compensation.

ELDER ABUSE FACTS

Abuse comes in many forms. Know the signs and symptoms of abuse and don't be hesitant to act on a gut feeling. Educate those around you about Elder Abuse and what to do if they believe a vulnerable adult is being abused. Ensure that Respite Care is available to caregivers. Often abuse is the result of frustrated, overworked caregivers who became overwhelmed and lashed out at the vulnerable adult.

Most incidents of elder abuse do not happen in nursing homes; rather it takes place at home. The great majority of older people live on their own or with their spouses, children, siblings, or other relatives, not in institutional setting. When elder abuse happens, family, other household members, and paid caregivers usually are the abusers. Although there are extreme cases of elder abuse, often the abuse is subtle, and the distinction between normal interpersonal stress and abuse is not always easy to discern.

There is no single pattern of elder abuse in the home. Sometimes the abuse is a continuation of long-standing patterns of physical or emotional abuse within the family. Perhaps, more commonly, the abuse is related to changes in living situations and relationships brought about by the older person's growing frailty and dependence on others for companionship and for meeting basic needs.

It isn't just infirm or mentally impaired elderly people who are vulnerable to abuse. Elders who are ill, frail, disabled, and mentally impaired or depressed are at greater risk of abuse, but even those who do not have these obvious risk factors can find themselves in abusive situations and relationships.

Stay alert to possible signs and symptoms of the different forms of abuse, signs include:

  • Unexplained injuries or behavior;

  • Vulnerable adult appears afraid of a person or certain situations;

  • Vulnerable adult is kept isolated from others;

  • Vulnerable adult reports abuse.

HOW TO PROTECT AN ELDER OR VULNERABLE ADULT

  • Talk with your parents. Get a feel for what they understand, what they want and what they do with their time;

  • Have medical assessments done. It will be necessary to have medical documentation to support housing and/or financial assistance;

  • Ensure that your parents have prepared a will;

  • Consider obtaining Power of Attorney (POA). There are varying powers available and need not take control from your parent's ability to make their own decisions. A POA is very helpful when needing to access medical or financial records;

  • Know your parent's financial history. Learn where they bank, have their investments and what their spending habits are.

Public Guardian - Protective Services

The Public Guardian provides protective, placement, and estate management services for individuals whom the court has placed under official County public conservator or guardianship for reasons of grave mental or physical disability.

For more information, please call (530) 886-2900, or contact the office by fax at (530) 886-2992.

Listed below are some on-line resources to help:

Alzheimer’s Association – Nonprofit organization provides support, education, training and resources for families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s and related disorders. www.aiz.org

AARP – Nationwide advocacy organization for people aged 50 and older. Information and educational resources on an extensive range of subjects, ranging from long-term health care to consumer fraud. www.aarp.org

Better Business Bureau – Provides reports on business and charities, helps resolve consumer complaints, and provides consumer counseling. www.bbb.org

California Adult Protective Services – State mandated program charged with investigating situations involving elder and dependent adults who are reported to be in danger due to abuse, neglect, exploitation, or hazardous or unsafe living conditions. www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform – Information and advocacy for nursing home residents and their families, including detailed facility profiles at www.nursinghomeguide.org

www.aging.state.ca.us

California Department of Justice, Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse – Provides information on a wide variety of elder topics, links to numerous other relevant sites, and contains contact and reporting information. www.ag.ca.gov/bmfea/

California Department of Justice, Crime and Violence Prevention Center – Provides community outreach information and technical assistance in the development of prevention programs which address such issues as elder abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and drug abuse. www.safestate.org

Eldercare Locator – Nationwide information and resource center for seniors and caregivers. www.elder.org

Long-Term Care Ombudsman – Trained individuals who advocate for the protection and rights of all residents of 24-hour long-term care facilities. The primary responsibility of the Ombudsman program is to investigate and resolve complaints made by, or on behalf of, individual residents. www.aging.state.ca.us/html/programs/ombudsman.html

National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse – Association of researchers, medical practitioners and advocates dedicated to the safety and security of the elderly. Serves as the nation’s clearinghouse on information and materials on elder abuse and neglect. www.preventelderabuse.org

National Family Caregivers’ Association – Grassroots organization dedicated to improving life for family caregivers, or those caring for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability. www.nfcacares.org

National Hispanic Council on Aging –Provides information on issues critical to Latino seniors, including those pertaining to health, income, education, employment and housing. www.nhcoa.org

National Institute on Aging – Information and consumer information on health and research advances in aging issues. www.nia.nih.gov

National Senior Citizens’ Law Center – Provides information for elder and dependent adults on such issues as Medicare, Medi-Cal, SSI and pensions. www.nsclc.org

Nursing Home Compare – Site designed to help individuals choose a nursing home, includes comprehensive inspection results for all nursing homes. www.medicare.gov
More Information Coming Soon!