__________________________________________Ask the DA
 

My sister is a senior citizen who lives in Brooklyn.  Her only child, my 39-year old nephew, has recently moved back home after a brief stint in rehab.  I believe that my nephew is mistreating my sister, taking her money, selling her possessions, and I suspect, even physically abusing her at times.  What can I do?

Over thirty years ago, Governor Hugh Carey appointed me as State Special Prosecutor for the Nursing Homes, Health and Social Services to prosecute corruption by nursing home operators.  I soon learned that there was much more than financial fraud being perpetrated in the nursing homes, and that those patients who resided within were often the victims of shocking physical, mental and psychological brutality.

Sadly, those of us in law enforcement have learned that elder abuse is not confined to nursing homes, adult homes and long-term care facilities.  More and more, elder abuse is committed by children, grandchildren, or other loved ones in the victims’ own homes.

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 child or grandchild.  Some victims simply do not know where to go to seek help.

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. 

The perpetrators of these vicious crimes against the elderly are often individuals who, not unlike your nephew, suffer from substance abuse, mental illness or a combination of the two.  Pursuant to a thorough case-by-case review, many of these defendants receive outpatient or residential treatment provided by programs which are under strict court supervision. 

The best advice that I can offer to you regarding your concerns about your sister would be to reach out to my Elder Abuse Unit at 718-250-3309.  My staff is highly trained to respond to any question you might have concerning this highly sensitive issue.

For more information please visit the office’s Web site at www.brooklynda.org. To have your questions answered in a future column, send them to asktheda@brooklynda.org.