SAN ANTONIO \u2013 The City of San Antonio and Bexar County are taking significant steps to combat the alarming rates of senior citizen abuse and exploitation.<\/p>\n
Bexar County is second in the state for high abuse and exploitation numbers, just behind Harris County, which is roughly twice the size. <\/p>\n
Just days ago, KSAT reported on a new Bexar County center to support those seniors. <\/p>\n
On the same day, the city announced the formation of a new elder abuse subcommittee, headed by District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears and District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy sweet mother-in-law, we were very close. She called me one day and she said, \u2018Hey, I need you to take me to Western Union. I\u2019ve got to get some money to this person.\u2019 And I said, \u2018What are you talking about?\u2019 And it was one of those scam emails,\u201d Spears said. <\/p>\n
Spears said many seniors don\u2019t have family to look out for them, and that\u2019s her biggest concern.<\/p>\n
Abuse and exploitation of senior citizens is rampant in Bexar County. Last year, Adult Protective Services confirmed almost 5,400 cases of elder abuse or neglect in the county. <\/p>\n
Spears\u2019 personal understanding of the issue is why she wanted to co-chair the city\u2019s new subcommittee on elder abuse and exploitation.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s already focusing on education.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was our elder fraud abuse seminar at our senior center. And we had an assistant DA come in and talk to our seniors about these are the signs. They feel much better equipped at it, at identifying the red flags,\u201d Spears said. <\/p>\n
The subcommittee is also focusing on educating people across the region who, they say, need to be on the lookout for senior abuse. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s important to look at caregivers. We are trying to make sure that our medical community is aware and sees the signs, and of course, our law enforcement,\u201d Spears said. <\/p>\n
She has also commissioned the city\u2019s first study on the needs of senior citizens. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also going to look at actual physical abuse as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Family Violence Prevention Services runs the Battered Women\u2019s Shelter and confirmed a wing specifically for senior citizens has been added to the shelter. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else is sad is often we see this within family structures. We will see caregivers using fraud and scamming the elderly. So we\u2019re hoping that we can impact that and make a difference,\u201d Spears said. <\/p>\n
The city is not the only entity taking notice of the rampant issue. <\/p>\n