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Erie County fights elder financial abuse with new task force

Posted at 2:36 PM, May 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-12 14:36:55-04

Erie County has launched a new task force that will curb elder financial abuse and exploitation.

The task force is called "Enhanced Multidisciplinary Team." The team of social workers, attorneys, and even a psychiatrist wants to make sure seniors aren't taken advantage of. In 2016 there were 1,600 reported cases in Erie County and in the State one out of every 24 cases of elder abuse a lot closer to home.

"What's more common actually are the amount of money that people will steal from their grandparents, their aunts, and uncles," Karen Nicolson, CEO of Center For Elder Law & Justice said.

The Center For Elder Law & Justice along with Lifespan in Rochester are sponsoring this group. Rochester has been doing this for a couple of years and it has been successful in keeping the victims safe, prosecution of the suspect and restitution of funds that have been stolen.