University of Maine: Maine Center on Aging

UMaine Center on Aging; "Forging Partnerships for an Aging Community"

Maine Partners for Elder Protection Project(MePEP)

Project funding provided by the Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF)

Who Can Help?

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, neglect, or exploitation contact:

Adult Protective Services

1-800-624-8404

Being abused by someone you love is frightening and degrading. A Spruce Run Worker is available 24 hours a day. All services are free and confidential.

Spruce Run
1-800-863-9909

207-947-0496

(Penobscot County)

If you are concerned for yourself or for someone you care about, call the 24 Hour Helpline to speak with an advocate.

Womancare
1- 888-564-8165

207-564-8165

(Piscataquis County)

If you are concerned about the care received, or the rights, health, safety or welfare of persons living in long term care facilities contact:

The Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

1-800-499-0229

For information about elder abuse and resources in your community contact:

Your local Agency on Aging

1-800-432-7812

Free, high quality legal assistance to socially and economically needy Maine residents age 60 and older

Legal Services For the Elderly

1-800-750-5353

The Office of the Attorney General uses the law to protect and serve the people of Maine.

Maine Attorney General

207-626-8800

Maine Partners for Elder Protection (MePEP) forges an innovative partnership among rural primary care practices (PCPs) in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties , an Area Agency on Aging (AAA), a university center on aging, and elder abuse community advocates. MePEP will demonstrate that primary health care is an effective and efficient site for early elder abuse screening because older adults will more likely utilize support when need is validated by a trusted medical provider and assistance is personally tailored.

A combination of paper and electronic brief screens administered during routine medical appointments will identify patients 60 years and older that are at risk of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. An elder care specialist will assess and respond to patient need. Education workshops and information will be provided to community sites through the project.

What is Elder Abuse?

Abuse: The infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or cruel punishment with resulting physical harm or pain or mental anguish; sexual abuse or exploitation; or the willful deprivation of essential needs.

Neglect: A threat to an adult's health or welfare by physical or mental injury or impairment, deprivation of essential needs or lack of protection from these.

Exploitation: The illegal or improper use of an incapacitated adult or his resources for another's profit or advantage.

Other:

Sexual Abuse
Abandonment
Self-neglect

How Many Elders Are Abused?

As many as 5 million older persons are abused nationally every year
An estimated 12,000 incidents of abuse occur in Maine annually
75-85% of elder abuse in Maine is never reported

What Are Risk Factors Elders Face?

Risk factors may include:

A pattern of domestic violence that continues as victim ages
Dependence of abuser on victim
Substance use of abuser

Not highly correlated with elder abuse:

Caregiver stress
Victim's personal traits
Victim's cognitive impairment
Victim's physical impairment

What are the Facts About Elder Abuse?

Most abusers are family members

Adult children
Spouse
Grandchildren

Neglect is the most common type of abuse, followed by Financial Exploitation

Victims have twice as many physician visits & are at greater health risk than elders who have not been abused

MePEP Partnering Organizations:
Adult Protective Services

Dexter Family Practice
Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine
Elder Abuse Institute of Maine
Eastern Agency on Aging
Maine Health Alliance
Milliken Medical Center
Norumbega Medical Evergreen Woods
Penobscot Community Health Center