Health and Human Services	Community Programs
COUNTY AGENCIES JOIN TO ADDRESS ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE

Sheboygan County Sheriff Michael Helmke, District Attorney Joe DeCecco and Health and Human Services Director Ann Wondergem have jointly announced a county wide program aimed at early detection of financial abuse of elderly county residents. This collaboration was the result of the three Departments working in conjunction with the Sheboygan County Elder Abuse Interdisciplinary Team (“I-Team”) over the last year. The “I-Team” is composed of representatives of the Sheboygan area financial community, public housing officials, representatives from the local hospitals and home health agencies, and other concerned citizens as well as the District Attorney, Sheriff and members of the Health and Human Services Elder Abuse staff. The I-Team developed a form entitled “Advance Order to Disclose” which was recently distributed to local banks, savings and loans, credit unions, estate planners, attorneys, accountants and financial planners as well as area nursing homes and senior living centers.  A signed form permits the financial institution to disclose records and information to responsible parties, including law enforcement, if the financial institution notices unusual activity or transactions taking place. Warning signs may include an older person’s lack of knowledge concerning his or her finances, an inability to explain loss of assets, larger than normal sums of money being withdrawn from an elder’s account, people other than the elder cashing checks, and loans being withdrawn to buy new cars or boats. The form supports a 2005 Federal ruling that Wisconsin’s elder abuse reporting laws permit Wisconsin financial institutions to report suspected cases of financial abuse. May is “Older Americans Month” and financial abuse of the elderly is a growing problem in the State of Wisconsin.  Reports of elder abuse, in general, increased by 2.2 percent in 2004, according to a report released September 19, 2005 by the Department of Health and Family Services.  In 2004, a total 3,937 suspected cases of abuse were reported statewide, with reports of financial abuse of an elderly person accounting for 21% of the referrals.  In Sheboygan County, there were 67 suspected cases of elder abuse referred in 2004, with 14 involving suspected financial abuse. The forms are also available at Health and Human Services, on the Sheboygan County website, your local police department or the Sheriff’s Department. The I-Team, in conjunction with the Sheboygan County Health and Human Services Department, will be conducting an educational campaign on how to recognize, report, and prevent financial abuse of our aging population.  For more information call Sheboygan County Health and Human Services, 459-3095, and ask for the elder abuse supervisor.

ADVANCE ORDER TO DISCLOSE FINANCIAL RECORDS FOR ELDER CUSTOMERS FORM

REVOCATION OF ADVANCE ORDER TO DISCLOSE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION RECORDS FOR ELDER CUSTOMERS FORM