Shelters for abused elderly take hold, long-term care ombudsmen questioned

Jan 29 2013

The Associated Press examines the rising use of shelters for the elderly who have been abused, and Kaiser Health News reports that long-term care ombudsmen face questions about their independence.

The Associated Press: Aging America: Elder Abuse, Use Of Shelters Rising
The woman, in her 70s, is trying to explain how she wound up in a shelter that could well be where she spends the rest of her life. While the woman was living with a close family member, officials at the Shalom Center say, her money was being drained away by people overcharging for her grocery shopping, while her body and spirit were sapped by physical neglect and emotional torment. ... The Shalom Center offers shelter, along with medical, psychological and legal help, to elderly abuse victims in this northern Cincinnati suburb. It is among a handful in the country that provide sanctuary from such treatment, a problem experts say is growing along with the age of the nation's population (Sewell, 1/27).

Kaiser Health News: Independence Of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Challenged In Some States
The 2.3 million elderly or disabled people living in nursing homes or assisted living centers might not know it, but they've got an advocate -- someone who's supposed to be looking out for their health, safety and rights (Bergal, 1/27).

Meanwhile, a story about access to care at the other end of the age spectrum --

The Wall Street Journal: Get Developmental Care
Many kids struggle with developmental problems at some point in their childhoods, and getting care for them can be costly and confusing. If your child isn't babbling or sitting at nine months, for instance, struggles with stairs or speaks unclearly at age three, you might be worried about a developmental delay. Help is available to enable your child to catch up, but parents will need to navigate a complicated zone where health care rubs up against education-;and kids sometimes fall through the cracks (Johnson, 1/27).