TN Elder Abuse

11/03/2021

While much emphasis has been on the abuses of some caregivers, we want to take a moment to appreciate the many people who care for our most vulnerable each and every day.

Join District Attorney Matthew Stowe and staff in saying THANK YOU to caregivers in your communities.

10/03/2021

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and it is especially important for seniors. The FBI shows record high cybercrime complaints in their 2020 data reports with US Senior Citizens losing a whopping $1.8 Billion. This was a 69% increase in cybercrime from 2019. The surge is blamed on criminals who exploited the COVID-19 pandemic for personal gain. Tennessee has recently taken decisive measures to help protect elderly and vulnerable adults from financial exploitation and fraud. Find out more about cybercrimes and how you can protect yourself and those elders you love. www.tnelderabuse.com

The Silent Crime

09/13/2021

Info from AGING IN PLACE:

Elderly Su***de: The Risks, Detection, And How To Help

Su***de rates have increased by more than 30 percent since 1999 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Elderly su***de is growing in the US. Learn more about how to detect elderly su***de and how to help seniors who may be losing sight of what to live for.

09/12/2021

What You Can Do To Prevent Su***de:
· Keep calm and take it seriously. Do not minimize the threat or assume it is a joke or a way of getting attention. Don’t act overly shocked either.
· Discuss su***de openly and directly.
· Listen. Show your support and concern.
· If possible, remove objects such as guns or pills that could be used to inflict self-harm.
· Get professional help.

09/11/2021

Take Notice of These Possible Su***de Warning Signs

· Talking about wanting to die
· Looking for a way to kill oneself
· Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
· Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
· Talking about being a burden to others
· Increased use of alcohol or drugs
· Sleeping too little or too much
· Withdrawing or feeling isolated
· Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
· Displaying extreme mood swings

09/10/2021

SEPTEMBER IS SU***DE PREVENTION MONTH

Tennessee Su***de Statistics

According to the Tennessee Su***de Prevention Network, the state's su***de rate is the highest it has been in five years. The Tennessean reported.1 “The Status of Su***de in Tennessee” report put out by the network said in the past five years there have been 1,017 su***de deaths, or 15.7 per 100,000. That’s higher than the national rate of 13 per 100,000.

From the AAMFT...
While older adults only account for 12 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 18 percent of su***de deaths, according to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Additionally, this risk increases with age; 75- to 85-year-olds having higher rates of su***de than those who are between 65 and 75, and individuals 85 or older have the highest risk yet.

The AAMFT also reports that the rates of elderly su***de are estimated to be under reported by 40 percent or more due to “silent su***des”—overdoses, self-starvation, self-dehydration, and “accidents.” However, the organization says that this portion of the population has a high su***de completion rate. This is mainly because of the methods they choose, which are typically easier to deduce as actual su***des and thus reported more correctly. The methods include using fi****ms, hangings, and drownings.

Elderly individuals also tend to have higher double-su***de rates, which involves both partners taking their own lives at the same time, according to the AAMFT.

09/28/2020

Remember to check on the elderly and vulnerable adults in your life during the COVID19 pandemic.