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8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February 17, 2004 ConnxuniyPg 487laurerAre. 878-2881 Community approach needed in the battie to protect seniors from fraud artists:,, police By HOWARD MOZEL Special ta The Champion One might think that as an officer on the frontline agamnst eider abuse, Halton Regional Police Const. Gregg Davidson might possess a pessimnistie view of humnan nature. But in reality, he's heartened by ail those who have stepped up to face the issue head on. "t love my job because moat people are good- intentioned," said Conat. Davidson, the region's Eider Services Support Officer, a position creat- ed last year. "ut is very fulfilling, very eye-open- ing."1 As a 15-year police veteran, however, Const. Davidton has alto seen bis share of heaetache, rangmng fromn neglect to incidents of people prey- mng on the eldcrly's trust, good nature and heaith prohlems. Take for example the door-to-door 'Jewelry appraiser" who walked off with a Burlington womnan's vaiuables (but was later arrested) or those peddling fraudulent driveway and roofmrg work. Const. Davidson alto quoted the case of a male caregiver who sexuaily aasaulted a wheel- chair-bound gentleman in his seventies. Fortunately, said Conat. Davidson, the good people in Halton far outweigh the bad. "That's why it bas to be a community approach," he said. "My prime function is edu- cation, to educate seniors and caregivers and the public." As of 2002 there were about 45,000 seniors in Halton, a number that's expecsed to double in 10 to 15 years, said Const. Davidson, making the need for awarencss ai the more pressing. "That's why we're going out into the commu- nity now," he said. Collective effort tIntegral ta this effort is Burlington Det. Const. Cathi Tharine, wbose mandate is to investigate crimes against seniors. There are alto five liaison officers for seniors' issues spread througbout thc region and Const. Davidson looks forward toi having a Det. Consstable dedicated to seniors in eacb community. -TMs is unique in policing," he sald. Conat. Davidson makes it clear, tbough, that police are onuy part of the equation ta, in keep- ing witb a community-hased approacb, officers work hand-in-glove with a wide array of agen- cies. Thete range fromn Comnmunity Care Accesa Halton, VON and long-term care facility staff to Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT), Halton Regional Police Const. Gregg Davldson keepa busy trying to combat the many forma of seniors abuse. Uic Eider Services Advisory Comenittee and the Eider Abuse Prevention Committee. "We have a lot of resourcet ta tap into ta salve Uiese problems," said Canst. Davidson. "It's bolistic." Abuse and neglect of an clderly persan is defmned as any action or inaction by any individ-, ual or institution Uiat resuita in harmn or negict of that persan. Given Uic delicate way in wbich many situa- tions - cspecially Uiose involving family - must be handied, Uic pragram's goal is ta try ta deai proactively. 'This means flot just iaying charges, but soiving issues be Uiey social or criminal. "Laying charges and taking people ta court is flot nccessarily in Uic hest interest of victima," sald Const. Davidsan. Particulariy tricky are crimes and neglect per- petrated by family members, many of which are not reported because of what Const. Davidson calls the "lave factor." This involves seniors who want Uic abuse ta stop, but don't want their abus- er ta get into trouble. Tbhat's when police step in ta work wiUi ail parties ta salve Uic situation, but don't aiways flc charges. Other cases are mare clear-cut, but no lest bcsrtbreaking, like Uic dmug-addictcd daugbter, who sold everything in her moUier't house - even Uic fumniture - leaving noUiing but a fcw preciaus belongings lockcd in Uic tnmnk of Uic elderiy wamnan's vehicle. By Uic time police becamne involved, Uic daughter was in the procesa of using a crowbar ta open Uic car. lIn another instance, children got Uieir parents ta sign over Uic dced ta Uieir bouse Uien prompt- ly tried tai eviet Uiemn. "It's very sad -ta tee seniors who worked ta bard ta get wbat they have taken by a selfisb cbild," said Conat. Davidsan. Such Uicfts-by-family include chiidren, wbo use Uieir power of attomney over parents ta'steai froru theru, a crime which Const. Davidson sosys many police officers are flot aware of and is cur- rently being tested in a Halton court. tnadvertent neglecs is another probleru, as illustrated by Uic elderly woman who endured a substandard life because ber daughtcr was forced to split care between ber mother and a husband wiUi cancer. That's technically not a crime, said Const. Davidson, but intervention was still necessary. Phone fraud from strangers. of course, is alto prevalent, as are scams involving "emergency" repairs and products seniors don't need and can't possibly use - like thc expensive vacuum cleaner sold to a blind woman, who lives in an apartruent with only hardwood flort. Fraud artists sharing inf Even worse, many perpetrators share infor- mation about victirus, Cont. Davidson explamned, and one resuit was the lady who was victinsized by six different contractors for work she didn't need. That's why it's important for people ta keep a friendly eyc on their more defenselets neigb- bours. After ah, said Conat. Davidaon, these seniors are people who fought for and built this country and often still conduct their lives with traditional values. '&(PerpetratorS) targes vuinerable people, peo- ple for whom a handshake meant somcthing," he said. Const. Davidson and Det. Const. Tharmne are aiso involved in trainiung front-mie caregivers. as well as police officers, on seniors' issues ansd the steps to identify signs of abuse and neget Unique to Ontario is Uic full day of seniors training that Haiton Regionai Police recruits receive. It includes everything from understand- ing dementia to fraud and abuse. Key to tlsis are scenarios played out by 20 senior volunteer actors wîi whom new officers interset and often quickly realize Uiat a speciai touch is required when dealing wiUi Uic eidery. Const. Dsvidson's secret wcapon to drive Uhit point home is a womnan who can cry on cue, somneUiing Uiat really throws officers off. "There is a certain way ta approach seniors," said Const. Davidson. "If you do it in Uic wrong maniner Uiey won't get Uic information Uicy need." The police arc alto scekisg ta make younger people and teenagers aware of seniors' issues and ta invoive Uhim in Uic lives of Uic eldcriy ta hclp bridge Uic gap bctween generations. "We can't lose Uiat," sald Const. Davidson. _W~ICOGECQ CoeoCbeProgrammîng Schedule - Tuesday, February l7th - Monday February 23th, 2004 %~ly Loca Television Channel 14 www.cogeco.ca 5ps,6r luw n 5 6p Psss ugg MI, 5p6 5pm 7k.gg-d J" 5im 6p. Pltgg.d PS! 5psm. 6p. Pk,5qa In ' I5pm. 6pm~ Plugged In NORTH MALTON STUDIO 5:3p 557 67 Sh..case 5 0 Pm FepleSpssk,, in Hlto 5,3p OsIe 05166556 Cone,, 5 7Op77 e npie 55767 3Op, WBth 5,,s6 TaS 6 30P OptimistTV Bingo(Li.)1 530p., Be Inspire 6 30n Mone MB6Wek 6 3Opm ,16 Shosss 6 S3Op, Faces X,,ss&&B5655 Laurier Plaza 8 Fpn Hatn 565 Coml 0066 Swa 7Tk (Livie) 7 0 71n The issues 7 0Op. 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