The proclamation included a panel of experts from different agencies who briefed the Board on the work being done to prevent elder abuse in Multnomah County. Elder abuse can be perpetrated by friends, caregivers, strangers, and even family. It can take many forms, including:
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Physical abuse
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Verbal abuse
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Neglect
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Exploitation
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Abandonment
In partnership with the Portland Police Bureau’s Elder Crimes and Vulnerable Adult Unit, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Gresham Police, and a network of community agencies, the County’s Adult Protective Services Team investigated 2,000 cases of elder abuse last year.
Here’s what they had to say about elder abuse and how to stop it:
In their own words: Why we are dedicated to stopping Elder Abuse
The police sergeant
“Part of the reason I became a cop is because I wanted to protect people and defend the vulnerable. When you’re talking about seniors, you’re talking about some of our most vulnerable because of age-related issues and isolation. The vast majority of them have given so much to the building of our communities and our nation. It’s very satisfying to know we can give back just by caring for them and providing the services they need to be healthy in their older years.”
- Sergeant Tim Musgrave, Portland Police Bureau
The mental health helper
“It’s really important to always keep in mind that these are older adults. They’re not children. We need to approach older adults with deep respect. The best thing you can do is respectfully approach the situation like, 'I was coming by and I’ve missed seeing you. I just would love to check in, see if you need anything, anything I can do for you.' It’s very difficult sometimes for seniors to ask for help.”
- Mary Joy, Lutheran Community Services Multidisciplinary Team Program Coordinator
The program manager
“The people that I work with continue to motivate me. The team of Adult Protective Services, the program — from office staff to investigators — everybody is such an amazing asset. It’s motivating to see how hard everyone works and it’s inspiring for me, as the manager of the program, in supporting seniors in our community.”
- Brian Hughers, Adult Protective Services Program Manager