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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1994)
I June 1994 What Is Elder Abuse? It is the mistreatment or neglect of an elderly person, usually by a relative or other caregiver. Elder Abuse May Include: * * * * * Physical violence. Financial exploitation. Neglect or abandonment. Emotional abuse. Violation of an elderly person's rights. * Sexual abuse. * Harassment. Who Might Be A V ic tim ? * Age 65 or older. * Dependent on someone else for basic needs. * Suffering from a physical or mental Impairment. What Can Be Done For Victims Of Elder Abuse? Elders may be afraid of retaliation or be too ashamed or embarrassed to take action against abusers. Some may wish to protect their family out of love. Victims may fear what will happen if they seek help. Help is available from professionals who understand these fears. The following are just som e of the resources available: * Trained staff can come to your home to discuss your concerns. * Help In finding a solution to your problem. * Inform ation on services available for the elderly In your community. * In fo rm a tio n on legal services. * Counseling regarding family concerns. * Financial counseling. Where Do You Report Elder Abuse? * Report suspected cases of elder abuse to your Elder Abuse Helpline. * All calls are confidential. * Once a call is made, trained staff will meet with the elderly person at home to listen to concerns and help find solution to the problem. a Learn The Facts About Elder Abuse Seek Help For Elderly Victims And Abusers Support Efforts To End Elder Abuse The E ld e r A buse program is available to elders in need of assistance. Services are free and confidential. How Can You Stop elder Abuse? Caregivers: * Talk about It If you have problems with family members or elderly relatives. * Plan free tim e to do something you enjoy each day. * Ask for help from other family members when you need It. * Contact Senior Services to find out about respite care, financial assistance and other community resources for the elderly. * Many comm unities have su p p o rt groups fo r care providers - join one. The Elder Abuse Helpline is a project of the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments, Senior Services. Senior Services: 155 E Olive, Suite 6 • PO Box 2101 • Newport, Oregon 97365 • (503) 265-7719 TDD/Voice • 1-800-282-6194 TDD/Volce 2225 Pacific Blvd. SE* PO Box 1836 • Albany, Oregon 97321 (503) 967-2090 TDD/Volce 1-800-638-0510 TDD/Volce Elder Abuse H elp line LINCOLN COUNTY: 265-7719 OR 1-800-282-6194 LINN/BENTON COUNTY: 967-2090 OR 1 -8 0 0 -6 3 8 -0 5 1 0 Senior Law Service A Program You Should Know About If You Are elderly And Have a Legal Problem or Question What is Senior Law Service? The S enior Law Services provides an attorney who gives free legal advice to seniors. The Senior Law Service is a program of Oregon Legal Services Corporation and the Cascades West Council of G overnm ents, Senior Services. Who Is Served? Seniors, age 60 years or older, regardless of their Income are served. There Is no charge for this service, but donations are accepted. Emphasis for service is placed on serving low Income, frail elderly who do not have the resources necessary to hire a p rivate attorney. How are Appointments Made? Any s e n io r w is h in g an appointment can call the Legal Aid office In Albany. The number Is 926- 8678. Collect calls are accepted. Where are Appointments? The a tt o r n e y ta k e s appointments at six different Intake sites In Linn, Benton and Lincoln Counties: Albany, Lebanon, Sweet Home, Corvallis, Lincoln City, and Newport. The attorney Is at each site once every other month. Home-bound or institutionalized seniors can call Legal Aid and arrange a home visit by the attorney. Services at Legal Aide office include food stamps, SSI and Welfare issues. What Types of Problem s are Handled? Examples of the types of legal problems handled are: ‘ Health care ben e fits such as Medicaid and Medicare. ‘ Consumer "scams" targeting the elderly. ‘ Nursing Home patient rights and abuse issues, "lost articles", transfer issues, and Medicaid discrimination. ‘ Adult foster care and in-home services issues. ‘ L a n d lo rd /T e n a n t and Federally subsidized housing issues. ‘ G u ard ian sh ip and conservatorship d e fe n s e , c iv il rig h ts , age discrimination, and elderly abuse. ‘ F e d e ra lly In s u re d m o rtg a g e foreclosures. Legal A ssistan ce Cannot Be ‘ Defense of criminal charges (Including traffic tickets) ‘ Fee generating cases such as personal injury and property damage (private attorney's fee Is a percentage of recovery). ‘ B ankruptcy. Community Education The S enior Law Service sponsors programs to help Inform the elderly of their rights under the law and to help prevent legal problems. These programs generally take place at senior centers and other locations at which elders gather. Brochures that discuss areas of the law of interest to elders are prepared by the Senior Law Service and made available at senior centers, Legal Aid, and other places where seniors gather. Oregon Legal Services Albany Regional Office 425 2nd Ave., SW #102 Albany, Oregon 97321 9 2 6 -8 6 7 8 Tears of the eagle, re fle c tio n of our soul , grandfathers gave all to save the lives of our grandmothers, that gave life to our mothers. I'm here ,1'm now, In my heart I have never done wrong, to walk away from all the suffering into more suffering .We love our people, our families, our Mother Earth. But this does not put food In the mouths of our hungry children, It Is so easy to say It Is not right to those of you that surrendered to a pay check. How many of you know how It feels to not have sixteen cents to pay for a pair of shoes to wear to your brother's funeral? Living In a world of demand, modern logic Is to not have any logic at all. There Is meaning to it, truly there Is. For what we feel now has been felt before and without question it will be felt again . We must now find the inner strength to understand the tears of the eagle, reflections of our soul, like the warriors with in us there has never ever been; and like the warriors that will come from us, will be like none that has ever been, victory doesn't come in one , two, or even three generations as long as our womon breathe there is meaning to the "Tears of the Eagle, Reflection of our soul..." Robert Van Pelt ♦ ♦ ♦ I | 9 I I ♦ ♦ I I 9 1 ♦ ♦ 9 i J
