State Reps. Phyllis Mundy, D-Luzerne, and Karen Boback, R-Columbia/Luzerne/Wyoming, held a news conference on June 12, 2008 to announce the formation of an Elder Abuse Task Force that will operate in Luzerne and Wyoming counties to safeguard the area’s elderly from physical, mental and financial abuse, neglect and exploitation.

The task force is comprised of 33 members, including representatives from local district attorney offices, law enforcement agencies and elder services providers, as well as elder abuse experts and state lawmakers.

Formed under the auspices of the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming counties, the task force’s mission is three-fold: to facilitate and develop expertise in prosecuting elder abuse; train professionals such as bank staff and medical personnel who are in constant contact with senior citizens to identify and report cases of potential fraud and abuse; and educate the public about elder abuse and how to prevent and report it. “It is an unfortunate reality that elder abuse has become commonplace because predators operate under the assumption that the elderly are helpless and can’t fight back,” said Mundy, chairman of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee. “Today, we say ‘you are not alone.’ This task force is dedicated to educating the elderly, their relatives and friends and the larger community about preventing elder abuse, as well as prosecuting those who prey on the elderly to the fullest extent of the law,” Mundy said.

Examples of mental and physical abuse of the elderly include intimidation, ridicule, isolation, neglect, terrorization and sexual abuse. Additionally, financial exploitation is becoming more prevalent as scam artists and even caregivers engage in identity theft by stealing personal information such as Social Security, credit card and bank account numbers.”Underreporting of elder abuse and neglect is one of the main challenges any task force will have, especially in cases of financial abuse of older people,” Boback said. “It is often difficult for someone to admit they have been swindled, especially if the person suspected is a trusted caregiver or a family member. We need to identify abuses and prevent them from happening.”

Luzerne County District Attorney Jacqueline Musto Carroll said, “With the growth of our aging population and the increase in crime that we are experiencing, it is incumbent upon the leaders in the community to come together to do everything we can to protect our senior citizens. They’ve raised their families here, worked in and supported our communities, and now it is our duty and privilege to give back to them.”

Other members of the task force at the news conference were Mary Beth Farrell, director of the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming counties; George Skumanick, district attorney of Wyoming County; and Dr. Charles Zola, executive director of the Ethics Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania at Misericordia University.

The first training session hosted by the task force will take place tomorrow for police and members of the prosecution teams from both district attorneys’ offices. The purpose of the training is to heighten the ability of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute cases of elder abuse.

Mundy and Boback last year approached local officials to develop the task force, which has been implemented in other counties across Pennsylvania. The representatives also are members of the task force.