June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which serves as an important opportunity each year for local police officer Maryhelen McCarthy to remind residents of how effective local responders can be when working cooperatively to catch and convict individuals who would prey on Newtown's cherished but oftentimes most vulnerable population.

Simply put, local seniors and their caregivers have a robust network of trained professionals looking out for them at all times. These representatives - from Newtown police officers, emergency dispatchers, State Prosecutors, and Protective Services investigators to directors of the local Senior Center, Social Services Department, Center for Support and Wellness (CSW), and various private and nonprofit agencies, including local banks - are constantly alert for signs that a local elderly person may be at risk for abuse, theft, or neglect.

Functioning separately, each of these parties and the agencies they represent can be the touch point where someone first learns or develops a suspicion that a local senior may be in some kind of trouble. Once an investigation into such a suspicion reveals solid evidence, a team of trained professionals pulls together to resolve the case.

The most recent example of that was the April 2018 conviction of Newtown resident Shannon Marie Simko, who was charged with Intentional Cruelty to Persons, a felony; and Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree. She was sentenced to two years probation and two years in jail, suspended after four days served, according to state Judicial reports.

The case involved the reported abuse of an elderly relative who was entrusted to her care. That victim recently passed away, Officer McCarthy told The Newtown Bee.

But before he did, Officer McCarthy said he endured "significant abuse, including the withholding of food and clothing and putting him outside on cold days in retaliation for what [Simko] said was inappropriate behavior that included bringing food into his bedroom."

The victim, who for a period of time owned a pet cat, also saw his appointed caregiver stuff the animal into a small birdcage for extended periods of time, Officer McCarthy related after witnessing the animal's treatment herself.

Ms Simko plead not guilty to both charges. But officer McCarthy said a substantial amount of evidence, including questionable and inconsistent statements made by supposed witnesses and some powerful admissions coaxed from the victim once he and his pet cat were safely removed from the local residence, helped a team of responders bring the case to its successful conclusion.

Officer McCarthy said State's Attorney and Newtown resident Stephen Sedensky played a critical role by taking in all the evidence and laying out the case in court. Mr Sedensky said "the Simko case was a good example of multidisciplinary cooperation among agencies, state, local, and private."

"Of particular help were the body microphones and cameras from the police cars," he said. "They provided us with not only the defendant's statements, corroborating the abuse of the victim, but also provided the ability to disprove and discredit a defense witness who claimed to be present but was demonstrably not there."

Mr Sedensky, in turn, credited the Newtown Police Department, the state Department of Social Services, and Community Care Inc for working well together to make the successful prosecution possible.

"The witnesses from these agencies did a good job working together during the investigation and with myself in preparing the case for trial," he said.

Newtown Police Chief James Viadero concurred, calling the resolution of the Simko outcome, "a textbook instance of how a case should be investigated, [with] follow-ups performed and ultimately prosecuted."

"In addition, I believe training is a key component in bringing these types of cases to a successful ending," Chief Viadero said. "Officers need to know the resources available and who to contact for assistance. [Being] allowed to work in a cooperative effort on the case is a key to success. In Newtown, we are fortunate to have officers that are well versed in the process."

Working As A Team

Social Services Director Ann LoBosco said her office is most frequently alerted to possible elder abuse by either the police department, someone from the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, or a concerned friend or neighbor.

"In these cases, the type of abuse is typically emotional or physical," Ms LoBosco said. "Sometimes we are alerted to a situation by a bank if there is a sign of financial abuse. The Post Office will also alert us to possible 'scamming' if they witness a senior continually mailing out what appears to be donations."

Ms LoBosco and her assistant work very closely with Newtown Police, particularly Officer Mary Helen McCarthy, along with Senior Center Director Marilyn Place to identify and validate situations that may signal abuse.

"When we become aware of a situation, we may attempt to contact a family member, depending upon circumstances," Ms LoBosco said. "We also might contact the senior's primary care physician if we have their permission. If emotional or mental illness is apparent, we will contact CSW for referrals."

Ms LoBosco said a representative of the state Adult Protective Services will be called by any local agency becoming suspicious or if there are clear signs of abuse.

"In some circumstances, we will petition the probate court for a conservator - particularly if the senior is showing signs of dementia or Alzheimer's and is being taken advantage of by family members or others," she said.

The United Nations, whose General Assembly designated June 15, 2018 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, warns that the number of older persons around the globe is growing. As a result, the amount of elder abuse can be expected to grow with it.

While the taboo topic of elder abuse has started to gain visibility across the world, it remains one of the least investigated types of violence in national surveys and one of the least addressed in national action plans, the UN states.

Locally, Newtown's population of seniors is growing along with its counterparts around the state, the country, and the world. As a result, Police Chief Viadero said public awareness of the crimes and neglect against seniors, and aggressive, comprehensive intervention is key to preventing abuse, minimizing harm to victims, and successfully investigating and prosecuting those who are guilty of it.

"Dealing with Elder Abuse cases is truly a group effort. The key is awareness - if someone suspects abuse, it has to be reported. The abuse will not go away on its own," he said. "Far too often, these cases go unreported. It's not until serious physical, emotional, or financial harm is done that we get notified. The earlier we know, the better results we will have in getting services to the victim."

That is where his officers, particularly Officer McCarthy, come in. As Newtown's point person on department matters related to elderly services, she is constantly following and researching elderly abuse and neglect cases while compiling the latest data, tips, and training information for her fellow officers, which she keeps in a centrally located binder at the local headquarters.

She also coordinates information sessions and outreach to individuals and groups through the local senior center, social services office, and the CSW. In addition, she recently was chosen to present a study on the Simko case at an Elder Justice Symposium held at the The University of New Haven's Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.

Writing The Manual

Newtown's seniors, law enforcement professionals, responding agencies, and emergency dispatchers are also fortunate to have among them the individual who literally helped write the original training manual for police officers and others responding to crimes against the elderly.

While she was a captain at the Brookfield Police Department, and that department's expert on elder abuse, Maureen Will saw a need for a central resource for what she believed was a type of crime that was too often handled improperly by responders because they simply did not have the appropriate resources and training to help this valued population.

Ms Will, a lifelong Newtown resident, served as a police officer and supervisor for 30 years before transitioning to her current post overseeing Newtown's emergency communications center. Before she coordinated the elder abuse manual, she also wrote the state's first law enforcement training manual on responding to domestic abuse. That experience helped inform the work she later did on the elder abuse response "bible."

"I remember seeing that manual over the visor of a lot of police cruisers," she said. "They gave it out at the academy beginning in the early 2000s. Before that, each agency did the best we could with the information we had. But there was such a need, because at the time, while we all networked together, we realized there would come a time when the next generation of officers would need something to help them work with seniors.

"It was a labor of love, and we had the blessing of our chief to do it," she said.

Ms Will sees Newtown seniors generally as members of one of three groups: those who are very active and savvy, those who do not like to identify themselves as seniors, and what she describes as the "silent seniors."

"This is a group I am seeing more and more of here," she said. "These are seniors who do not advocate for themselves and can be taken advantage of very quickly. Those are the ones I really want to protect."

Ms Will said some of these seniors are simply embarrassed about their living conditions or personal situations.

"We need to let them know it's okay. That's why the interaction with Ann down in Social Services and Marilyn at the Senior Center is phenomenal. They have significant resources for and contacts with these individuals," Ms Will said. "But it still takes an entire community to look out for them. Just like they say in other situations: when you see something, when it comes to an elderly person, say something."

Empower Together

Daryl Might, Case Manager at Newtown Youth and Family Services, also recognizes that when agencies like his work with others, they can help prevent elder abuse from happening.

"We can put support services in place and direct community resources toward addressing elder abuse," he said. "Elder abuse is widespread. Every year, an estimated one in ten older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation."

Mr Might believes elder abuse is significantly under reported, in part because so many communities lack the social supports that would make it easier for those who experience abuse to report it.

"Research suggests that as few as one in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities," he said. "The good news is Newtown Youth and Family Services has a program called Empower Together that can offer case management services for elder abuse victims in the state of Connecticut."

The NYFS caseworker said Empower Together can provide victims of elder abuse and/or neglect the resources and services they need in order to lead safe, healthy, and productive lives.

If you or someone you know is experiencing elder abuse, or for more information, they can reach out to Mr Might at 203-270-4335, extension 307, or by e-mail at .dmight@newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org

Individuals who are victims or those who suspect elder abuse or exploitation is occurring can reach Officer McCarthy by dialing 911, or by calling 203-426-5841.

They can also reach the Newtown Senior center at 203-270-4315; Social Services at 203-270-4330; and the Center for Support and Wellness at 203-270-4612, or by visiting newtowncsw.org.

To make a report to Protective Services for the Elderly at the Department of Social Services during business hours, call the toll-free line 1-888-385-4225. After business hours or on weekends or state holidays, call Infoline at 211.

Anyone calling from outside Connecticut, call Infoline 24/7 at 1-800-203-1234.

The Department of Social Services has made online training available to educate people on how to recognize and report elder maltreatment. Learn more by clicking here.