RICHMOND, Ky. (April 28, 2004)—A May 6 symposium on elder maltreatment will feature discussions of statistics on elder abuse and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ role in investigating abuse.

The symposium, sponsored by the Local Coordinating Council on Elder Maltreatment for Clark, Madison, Estill and Powell Counties, is set for 1-3:30 p.m. at McCready Manor in the St. Andrews Retirement Community, 300 Stocker Drive, Richmond. Registration is free and includes a lunch.

Topics at the symposium will include Alzheimer’s disease and the role of community partners in helping courts protect the elderly from exploitation. There will also be an update on state and federal funding for elder abuse prevention.

Panelists at the event will include: Eugene Foster, undersecretary for children and family services with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Sue Crone, adult protection specialist with the cabinet; Madison County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Smith; William Clouse, district judge for Madison and Clark counties; Esther Hulburt, a gerontologist; and Lt. Christopher Lanham of the Kentucky State Police.

The Madison County Health Department and MEPCO Home Health Agency will provide 2.0 contact hours for nurses who take part in the symposium.

To preregister, call (859) 623-1204 after 4 p.m. on May 3 or 4 and ask for Dolores Albright or Tanda Dannelly. Participants may also register at McCready Manor beginning at 12:30 p.m. the day of the event.

Statewide, there are at least 18 local coordinating councils on elder abuse. Their goals are to:

• develop and build an effective community-wide system of prevention and intervention that is responsive to the need of victims, perpetrators, family members, and formal or informal caretakers.
• identify and coordinate the roles and services of local agencies that work with elder abused, neglected, or exploited victims and to investigate or prosecute elder abuse cases.
• monitor, evaluate, and promote the quality and effectiveness of services and protection in the community.
• promote a clear understanding of elder abuse, current laws, elder rights, and resources available in the community.
• serve as a clearinghouse for information on elder issues.

Organized along regional or county lines, depending on the needs of each location, the local councils were formed under the joint leadership of the Area Agencies on Aging and local Adult Protective Services (APS) staff of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Council membership includes APS staff, local law enforcement, prosecutors, state police, bankers, care providers, long-term care ombudsmen, and other advocates for the elderly.