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President Bush has recognized May as Older Americans Month. What is your Office doing to help seniors throughout Brooklyn? 

According to a recent White House press release, this year's Older Americans Month theme is "Working Together for Strong, Healthy, and Supportive Communities."  It serves to focus us, as Americans, on the importance of recognizing the changing nature of the needs of our seniors.   Public servants, in particular, must continually seek new ways to reach out to older adults with vital services and information so that they in turn can make more informed choices about their lives. 

Thirty-seven million seniors live in the United States, according to the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau population estimate. They account for 12 percent of the total population. Approximately 400,000 seniors live in Brooklyn.
I have worked hard to address to the concerns of senior citizens living in Brooklyn.

In 1992, I created the Senior Affairs Unit to address the specific needs of our vulnerable elderly population. It has both outreach and educational components. Through our Neighborhood Offices, we are able to reach out to seniors for whom travel to our main office in downtown Brooklyn might prove difficult. For assistance with a wide variety of issues, anyone may call or visit one of my local Neighborhood Offices (to find the one nearest you, call 718-250-2555).  

In addition, Assistant District Attorneys travel to senior citizen centers throughout Brooklyn, both to educate seniors regarding crime prevention techniques, as well as to hear from them about issues of particular concern. Most recently, the Unit has focused on predatory lending practices, which routinely target the elderly.  Some issues addressed by members of my Senior Affairs Unit include: 

·          Identity theft

·          Homebuyers/homeowners beware

·          Mortgage fraud

·          Home healthcare aide fraud

·          Emotional/psychological abuse

·          Domestic violence

·          Financial fraud

·          Public utility impostor

·          Physical abuse

·         Safety tips for seniors 

In 1999, I created the Elder Abuse Unit in response to the growing number of elder abuse cases in Brooklyn.  Since its inception, the Unit has prosecuted between 200 and 300 cases per year.   Nineteen of those cases were homicides in which the elderly victims were killed at the hands of a loved one.   

I remain convinced that a large number of elder abuse cases go unreported.  Many victims are isolated and unable to call for help.  Some are scared.  Others do not wish to be responsible for the arrest and subsequent prosecution of a loved one. Some victims simply do not know where to go to seek help. 

For more information visit our Web site at: http://www.brooklynda.org.

 To have your questions answered in a future column, send them to asktheda@brooklynda.org.