
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, August 7, 1993                   TAG: 9308070141
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ABINGDON                                LENGTH: Medium

PANEL URGED TO END EXPLOITATION

Social workers advised a legislative panel to recommend public guardianship programs and other measures to protect elderly and handicapped people from financial exploitation.

There were 1,959 cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation of elderly adults in Southwest Virginia in the past year, said Helen Napps, an adult protective services specialist with the Department of Social Services. Of those, 98 were victims of financial exploitation. But she said most exploitation cases are not reported.

Social workers told stories of cases where elderly or mentally handicapped individuals are exploited by family members and left penniless and homeless, but will later refuse to press charges or testify against the exploiters.

Hattie Beverly's story was one of several heard by the panel holding meetings statewide to gather information on the financial exploitation of the elderly and mentally handicapped.

In 1987, the elderly Scott County woman hired a man to help her take care of her invalid sister.

Within a few years, the care-giver had allegedly convinced Beverly to sell her family farm and used her power of attorney to gain access to her money. By 1991, the man allegedly exploited and misused well over $100,000.

Lisa Overbey, a Scott County social worker, recommended a central registry bearing information about those who have abused, neglected or exploited elderly people.

Overbey recommended public guardianship programs be established to provide personalized assistance to those who have been victimized, along with stringent guidelines for credit cards to ensure those who use them are authorized to do so.

She also suggested more stringent regulations be established concerning powers of attorney.

Demis Stewart, director of service programs for the Virginia Department of Social Services, said the committee will report its recommendations to the state secretary of health and human resources this fall, and suggestions for dealing with exploitation will be forwarded to the 1994 General Assembly.

by CNB