Elder abuse cases on rise; economy part of the problem

TROUBLED:
Connie Matajcich told Anderson police that family members took financial advantage of her, spurring an investigation into allegations of elder abuse.

After suffering two shattered knees and a stroke, Anderson resident Connie Matajcich, 73, needed looking after. She still has trouble concentrating, but feels better now than before her stroke in 2008, she told the Valley Post last week.

"I really didn't know much of anything," Matajcich said of her pre-stroke condition. "I was sick and didn't know what I was doing."

It was while in that state of mind, Matajcich told investigators at the Anderson Police Department, that she was financially abused by her caretakers.

According to an APD report, Matajcich's caretakers "convinced her to enter into a reverse mortgage which she does not understand." She also alleged that profits from the reverse mortgage were then stolen from her.

The alleged caretakers were not professionals, they were not strangers - they were her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Toman and Randy Toman, the police report indicates.

During her illness, Matajcich had temporarily moved away from Anderson. Upon her return, she lived in a house trailer while renters continued to occupy her house. Upon moving back into her permanent residence, Matajcich told police that the trailer with all her belongings was towed away by her daughter and son-in-law, the report continues.

She moved back into her house even though it was relatively empty except for a few furnishings that she was able to purchase from local yard sales, the report notes.

Matajcich said she initially did not want to call the police regarding the alleged abuse by her own relatives.

"I wanted to feel I was doing it on my own," she said, admitting that she felt bad about contacting authorities.

Investigators in Oregon have not yet been able to question the Tomans, according to Anderson Detective Robert Modin, who is looking into the elder abuse allegations filed in Anderson. Until the Oregon authories do so, Anderson police cannot fully investigate the allegations.

Matajcich raved about the help she received from Adult Protective Services, calling her case worker fabulous. The agency connected her to the social services that she needed and urged her to contact the Anderson police to investigate her claims.

Only one in a hundred elder abuse cases are ever reported, Adult Protective Services Program Manager Jim Livingston said.

Several victims of elder abuse have come through the doors of Anderson Cottonwood Christian Assistance (ACCA) seeking food, Client Service Coordinator Barbara Jackson said, as some are financially wiped out by caretakers or family members.

Jackson expressed frustration that victims refused to stand up for themselves and call authorities for assistance.

"You work all your life and then allow somone to do these things to you," she said. "Some days I don't go home feeling very good."

Former Shasta County District 5 Supervisor Trish Clarke, now an unofficial advocate for senior citizens. understands that sentiment perfectly well.

"They don't want it reported (that) they can't take care of themselves," said Clarke, in her capacity as chairman of Shasta County's Older Adult Policy Council. "They're afraid they'll get put away someplace."

But that most likely is an unfounded fear, authorities said.

"We want people to stay at home," Livingston said. "Don't be a silent victim."

The law makes special provisions to protect the elderly and dependent adults, according to Shasta County Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett, who oversees Shasta County's elder abuse investigations.

"Crimes against elders and dependent adults are deserving of special consideration and protection because they may be confused, on medications, mentally or physically impaired, or incompetent, and therefore less able to protect themselves," Bridgett said, reciting the legal intent of California's elder abuse laws.

"The exploding incidences of abuse and exploitation of elders affects more than 2 million victims annually in this country," said Jenefer Duane, founder and chief executive officer of Elder Financial Protection Network in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"In the (current) economic crisis, elders are at greater risk than ever to be targeted by scammers, unscrupulous family members, caregivers and even friends and neighbors," Duane said.

Currently there are six charges of elder abuse working their way through Shasta County's court system, Bridgett said.

Of those six victims, one is a Cottonwood resident whose jewelry was stolen.

Another victim is a resident of Happy Valley who reported a theft by a family member.

Adult Protective Services can be reached at 225-5758.