Elder Abuse Task Force schedules ‘Protecting Yourself from Elder Financial Fraud: Don’t Become a Victim!’ workshop

Dallas, Pa. — The Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Elder Abuse Task Force of Pennsylvania, co-chaired by the Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Area Agency on Aging and the Ethics Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania at Misericordia University, is hosting two free elder financial abuse education programs, “Protecting Yourself from Elder Financial Fraud: Don’t Become a Victim!,’’ on Monday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Misericordia University.

The identical sessions feature guest speakers Ronald Costen, Ph.D. Esq., the director of the Pennsylvania Institute on Protective Services at Temple University; Brenda Colbert, Esq., of Marshall, Parker & Associates, which specializes in elder law and estate planning, and representatives from the Pennsylvania State Police and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.

The program is being held in Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall at Misericordia University. Snow date for the program is Wednesday, March 10. To register, please call (570) 822-1158. Lunch will be served following the noon workshop and light refreshments will be available at the evening program. Deadline for registration is March 1.

The Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Elder Abuse Task Force was formed in 2008 under the leadership of state representatives Phyllis Mundy and Karen Boback. It is dedicated to reducing the number of elderly victims through prevention, education, identification and prosecution of elder abuse. It is co-chaired by the Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Area Agency on Aging and the Ethics Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania at Misericordia Universit.

The task force works collaboratively with the Institute on Protective Services at Temple University and local community leaders to design programs that raise awareness of elder abuse. Since its inception, the task force has sponsored informational workshops on elder care abuse and elder sexual assault for health care professionals and law enforcement officials.

For more information on the Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Elder Abuse Task Force and the spring workshop, please log on to www.elderabusetaskforce.org, or call the Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Area Agency at (570) 822-1158 or the Ethics Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania at Misericordia University at (570) 674-6201.

The Ethics Institute of NEPA at Misericordia University was established in 1987 by Sister Siena Finley, RSM, and a group of community professionals and leaders from the Wyoming Valley who wished to foster more dialogue on ethical issues affecting the region. It is an institute directed by regional leaders and educators who are committed to the discussion of ethical issues both theoretical and practical. The institute encourages responsible ethical action through informed rational deliberation and it facilitates the process in the academic community as well as in the community at large through special workshops and forums.