Senior Fraud and Exploitation Forum May 11

NILES, Ohio — The Ohio Attorney General’s office, Ohio Department of Aging and other local experts are hosting a forum this Friday to address senior fraud and exploitation.

Representatives from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office will join Beverly Laubert, director of the Ohio Department of Aging, at the Austintown Senior Center from 1 to 4 p.m. May 11. Two panel discussions will focus initiatives to empower and protect older adults as well as advocacy and available services.

In a release, the Area Agency on Aging 11 Inc. in Niles reported elder financial abuse and fraud costs older Americans $36.5 billion per year. The National Council on Aging reports that elder abuse increases the risk of death by 300% compared to those who haven’t been mistreated.

“This growing trend has led the CDC to recognize the financial exploitation of older adults as a serious public health problem,” said Lisa Solley, the Area Agency on Aging 11’s director of communications. “Educating people about these ploys, and where to get help are topics that cannot be stressed enough.”

The agency partnered with the attorney general’s Elder Abuse Commission and the Austintown Senior Center to organize the forum. The Senior Center is located at 112 Westchester Drive, Austintown.

Agency panelists include Zoanne Sharpe, assistant director of home and community-based services, and John Saulitis, director long-term care ombudsman. Other local panelists include Theodore Schmidt, president PNC Bank; Elliot Legow, elder law attorney; Major William Cappabianca, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office; Patricia Brown, supervisor with Columbiana County Adult Protective Services; and Jim Henshaw, executive director Austintown Senior Center.

The event is free and open to the public.

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