News & Updates
June 2023 | Issue 9
Upcoming Events
Donna White, PhD., will give the keynote presentation at our upcoming Caregiver Luncheon and Expo. She'll be talking about the brain science and physiology of stress, and the theory linking self-care to increased resiliency. Renown for her highly interactive style, White promises to demonstrate techniques, not just talk about them. By the time we eat lunch, you'll have a better understanding of your role as a caregiver and feel a stronger sense of purpose.
Recent News
Congratulations to Clinical Services Director Kim Nahas, who earned her Certificate in Social Impact Management and Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. Thank you, Kim, for sharing your skills with ESCCI.
Protective Services Caseworker Cathy Ode has been tapped to take over as Long Term Care Ombudsman Program Director on July 10. Join us in congratulating Cathy on her promotion!
Service Spotlight
Appreciation
We are grateful to the Cape Cod Foundation Strategic Emergency Response Fund for its gift of $20,000 to support the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, one of many programs for which demand is increasing faster than government funding. The Ombudsman Program ensures that residents' rights are respected and protected in the 22 long-term care facilities on Cape Cod and the Islands. Because this work takes place in institutional settings, it is not as visible in the community as some of our other programs.These funds will be used to help cover some of the costs of operating this essential program in the coming year.
Taking Steps to End Elder Abuse Every Day of the Year
ESCCI staff rallied on the Hyannis Village Green on Thursday, June 15 to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by raising awareness with a walk down Main Street.
Throughout the month of June, Elder Services is taking extra steps to raise awareness about Elder Abuse, Neglect and Financial Exploitation. In addition to the World Elder Abuse Awareness rally for staff and volunteers held on June 15th, we're leaning into radio and social media to promote community conversations about ending abuse.

Why, when almost everything Elder Services does every day of the year is oriented toward preventing abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, would we feel the need to do more?

Elder abuse affects 1 in 6 community-dwelling older adults globally every year and can lead to great bodily and psychological harm and death. But, research suggests that as few as 1 in 4 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities. In 2022, Elder Services received over 2,000 reports of suspected elder abuse occurring in its service area of Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket. In their investigations, the Protective Services Unit works closely with law enforcement or other resources and partners as appropriate to remediate the situation. Effective intervention after harm has already been done is important, but it is better for everyone if the harm can be prevented.

Speaking at Thursday's rally, Doug Bolton, Fraud Prevention Officer at Cape Cod 5, explained, scams directed at older adults are evolving and mutating at a rapid rate which is why bank employees are trained to respond to unusual activity in customers' accounts. However, once funds have been electronically transferred, they are difficult to recover. Falling victim to financial exploitation or any form of abuse can be traumatizing, Chris Morin of Independence House said when addressing Elder Services staff and volunteers. Unfortunately, trauma can trigger feelings of shame leading to self-isolation and self-neglect when, really, help in the form of counseling is in reach and does help. Counseling can help us learn to once again trust ourselves and our decision-making, and is one of the community supports that foster resilience and prevent further incidences of abuse.
Morin reminded us of the role ageism, including internalized ageism, plays as a social determinant of abuse. In addition to being a clear violation of the American commitment to justice for all, elder abuse is an issue with many consequences for our society with effects on our community's public health and economy. Learn more about prevention here.

  • If you or others experience abuse or neglect in a community setting, call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at 1-800–922-2275
  • If you or others experience abuse or neglect in a Long Term Care Facility, call the Ombudsman Program at 508-394-4630
  • In an emergency call 911

(Kudos to Shannon Fitzpatrick, d/b/a Shannon M. Photography, for so ably documenting this year's event. Thank you, Shannon!)
Chief Executive Officer Maryanne Ryan was joined by (left to right) State Representative Kip Diggs, Protective Services Program Manager Ed Murphy, and Cape Cod Five Fraud Prevention Officer Douglas Bolton in addressing the rally. Also speaking but not pictured, Chris Morin, Director of Education, Prevention and Outreach for Independence House.
How Money Management Programs Help Prevent Scams
By Darlene Skog

The mission of the Massachusetts Money Management Program is to help individuals sixty and over keep current with monthly bills so they can remain in their homes and maintain their independence. In the course of carrying out its mission, the program also helps individuals to avoid falling victim to financial abuse, fraudulent schemes, and scams. 

Elder financial abuse and fraud ruins the financial security of millions of older individuals each year. Older individuals at all income levels are targeted by identity thieves and scammers. With so many older individuals struggling to make ends meet on tight budgets, even the smallest monetary loss can be financially devastating.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) collects extensive data on scams, which show that in 2022 alone, individuals lost a total of $8.8 billion dollars to scams. That same year, they received 2.4 million fraud reports. The types of scams most costly to older adults are:

1.   Impostor Scams – scams where someone is pretending to be a government employee or an employee of a business you’re familiar with, often your bank.
2.   Investment Scams – these generally involve the scammer soliciting investments in real estate or companies that don’t exist, or in some sort of Ponzi or pyramid scheme.
3.   Romance Scams -- con artists fake romantic interest so they can swindle you out of money or steal your identity. This crime typically takes place on a dating app and social media, though they can happen in real life too. 
4.   Online Shopping Scams -- scammers pretending to be legitimate online sellers, either with a fake website or a fake ad on a genuine retailer site.
5.   Tech Support Scams -- programs, web sites, or even unsolicited phone calls that try to scare you into calling a remote tech support number so that they can sell you unnecessary services.

Experts in the field of elder financial abuse, fraud, and scams recommend these nine key steps to take to avoid being scammed.
Kindness, Integrity, Accountability & Teamwork are the Cornerstones of our Success.
Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, Inc., is a registered 501c3 organization. We rely on numerous sources of income in order to accomplish our Agency’s mission and depend on the generosity of our community to help us reach our goals.