BY MIKE COX
June 08, 2008 04:00 am Did you know that as many as 5 million seniors fall victim to financial abuse each year? And did you also know that 60 percent to 90 percent of perpetrators of financial abuse of seniors are family members or caregivers? These are the reasons I have initiated Project $CAMS -- Stop Crimes Against Michigan Seniors. The premise is simple: A significant number of residents in Michigan nursing homes are behind on their payments because their monies have either been embezzled or misappropriated. To root out this problem of financial abuse against seniors, we partnered with the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, as well as the U.S. Department of Treasury, AARP, the Michigan Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and the Health Care Association of Michigan. Michigan has 420 nursing homes with a population of approximately 40,000 residents. Our goal is to cover every nursing home in the state. The initial phase of Project $CAMS targeted west Michigan, northwest Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. What we found was shocking: •One son stole more than $20,000, some of which was used to purchase firearms and lease hunting land; •A daughter did not make payments to the nursing home where her parent lived, incurring an unpaid bill of more than $2,200. Staff at the nursing home had to buy the resident shoes and provide spending money for outings. •Another son stole more than $1,600 to cover gambling habits; and, •A resident's daughter stole more than $2,000. She had four prior financial felony convictions. As a result, my office has brought charges against 22 individuals for allegedly stealing money that belongs to seniors. Incredibly, in each case, the accused is a relative of the victim. The sad reality is that financial exploitation of seniors is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. And the problem is compounded by the fact that only one in 100 victims of financial exploitation actually report the crime. Project $CAMS is especially important because Michigan is an aging state. In two years, Michigan will have more than 1.3 million residents aged 65 and older. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Michigan's senior population will almost double between now and 2030. If someone you love is cared for in one of Michigan's nursing homes, here are some tips: •Visit frequently, at different times of the day -- don't be predictable. •Ask questions -- and not just of your mom, dad, aunt or uncle, but of the staff. If you suspect that a senior (or vulnerable adult) who resides in a residential care facility is being financially exploited, please call our hotline at (800) 24-ABUSE (800-242-2873). Seniors have paid their dues, literally and figuratively, and they are entitled to dignity, respect and peace of mind. About the author: Mike Cox is attorney general for the state of Michigan. About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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