THE OLDER CROWD:Elder-abuse outreach at senior center

In July, I wrote about how prevalent elder abuse is becoming in Orange County and nationwide.

Each year, hundreds of older people are abused, neglected and exploited by family members and others. Many victims are people who are old, frail, vulnerable, and cannot help themselves, depending on others to meet their most basic needs.

Among known perpetrators of abuse and neglect, the perpetrator was a family member in 90% of the cases. Two-thirds of the perpetrators were adult children or spouses. Other perpetrators included paid attendants, employees of long-term care facilities or caregivers who lack adequate skills, training, time or energy.

We at the Costa Mesa Senior Center are aware that this is happening and are putting together an Elder Abuse Outreach and Prevention Program.

Recently, we received a grant to start this program from the Allergan Foundation in Irvine. In order to really get this off the ground, we will have to apply for other grants to be able to fully implement the prevention program.

The program will focus on persons with physical or mental disabilities who depend on others for care. Our social services director, Charu Mody, will implement the new program.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in the field, she will provide in-home visits and follow-up case management, addressing individuals’ multiple and changing needs through the following services:

The program objective is to offer educational outreach presentations that outline indicators of elder abuse, share guidelines for reporting abuse and raise awareness of the problem.

Since secrecy is an abuser’s best protection, the Elder Abuse Outreach and Prevention Program will help break the abuser’s hold by giving seniors a safe, accessible, trustworthy resource in their immediate community.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center is unique in that it is the only agency offering seniors a broad array of services at no cost.

The Social Services Program was established to enhance seniors’ physical and mental well-being through programs that address loneliness and isolation, depression, financial needs, health insurance issues, referrals for transportation, groceries, housing and home care.

The Elder Abuse Outreach and Prevention Program will meet a community need and add an important resource to the Social Services outreach. The center also collaborates with other organizations to share resources and expertise.

Upcoming eventsSaturday — We will have a flea market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. We invite you, your family and friends to come along to the center’s parking lot at 695 W. 19th Street, Costa Mesa.

Besides just plain good bargains, we will have many arts and crafts items for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Nov. 21 — The Costa Mesa Senior Center will be giving free flu shots to people 65 and older from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov. 28 — Mr. Surat Singh from Angel’s Car Wash in Costa Mesa will again sponsor our Thanksgiving lunch, including all the traditional foods: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, and apple and cherry pies.

Singh has been sponsoring Thanksgiving lunch at the center for the past five years. He is a strong believer in seniors and all that they have taught us and feels it is a time to give back to the community.

If you are interested in joining us for this great occasion, please call (949) 645-2356, as reservations are a must. The cost is $3.