Elder Abuse On the Rise
The population of the Upper Peninsula is aging, and abuse of older residents seems to be on the rise in recent years.
The Marquette County Aging Services Advisory Committee explored that topic at a meeting this afternoon.
Marquette County Prosecutor Matt Wiese was there to speak with them.
He says elder abuse is becoming more common over time, but it often takes the form of other crimes.
Wiese says it’s often robberies of the homes of elder residents in which the proceeds are sold so that the thief or thieves can buy drugs.
He says he’d like to change the culture of the justice system locally so that it has the kind of framework for abuse of seniors that it has for animal abuse or child abuse.
Wiese says it currently doesn’t have that sort of framework.
He adds that the Marquette County law enforcement community wants to create a more active dialogue with elder services groups so that seniors’ concerns can be more easily heard.
Posted by: Mike Hoey