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Show News about people and their lives eview Wednesday October 8; 1986 aim Community briefs VFW post sets Child Find clinic, meeting LAYTON The Layton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8307 will hold its October general meeting Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. for both post and auxiliary members. The guest speaker will be Elaine Runyun. On Saturday, Oct. 18 the posts ladies auxiliary will sponsor a Child Find identification and clinic. Anyone interested in having children or grandchildren take part in this clinic should take them to the Post Home at 1389 N. Main in Layton between the hours oHO a.m. and 4 p.m. Contact Post Commander Lee 0 or Auxiliary Renney at President Bonnie Garner at for more information. finger-- printing 544-105- 825-26- 43 Assertiveness course to begin in Layton An assertiveness training course, sponsored by Davis County Mental Health Center, will begin Oct. 21 in Layton. The k course helps people to and acquire more control over their lives without denying the rights and feelings of others. The ability to express oneself and communicate in a more direct and open way will be facilitated through instruction and practice in such specific skills as coping with criticism, refusing requests, making requests, handling anger and anxiety, and giving and receiving compliments. The Layton class is conducted on eight consecutive Tuesday evenings, 6 to 8 p.m., at 2250 N. 1700 W. The instructor is Mike Fikstad. There will be a $32 registration fee. Please call Bill Paten-aud- e 6 for further at information or to register. eight-wee- self-respe- Ignored, forgotten and neglected, a grandmother rocks away her golden years reading by the light from a bare bulb. derly BRYON SAXTON Review vices. A number of cases were received during the month of September, more than other Carlsen said. I dont think the problem is diminishing. I think its increas-tnmonths, ' m T ., y p a T g. And state Social Service statistics support his claim. The Davis County area is the third highest district in the state in receiving neglect referrals, Carlsen said. There are 13 Adult Protective Service districts throughout Utah. This area is comparable in neglect reports to anything that is happening in the state, excluding the central Salt Lake area," he said. S' i don'tis think the staff FARMINGTON Some say children should be seen and not heard while others believe in a similar fate for the elderly. Senior citizen neglect. Its an ugly phrase and an even uglier action. And according to area adult protection officials, the problem is increasing. I think it is a growing problem and will continue to grow because of the increase in the elderly population in Davis County," said Fred Carlsen, Davis County Adult Protective Service worker. The service is a division of the state Department of Social Ser- The Adult Protective Services received 8 referrals a month from April to June, Carlsen said, adding, but that figure has increased during the last several months. But even with eight reports a month most referrals never make it to the Adult Protective Services. According to a 1985 federal study conducted by the House of Representatives only one out of every six cases of adult abuse are reported to the proper authorities. 298-344- diminishing. problem I think it's increasing. Fred Carlsen ing for them, Carlsen said. Anybody can abuse. They do it for money, power, stress or out of insensitivity or ignorance. When a case of abuse is turned over to the Adult Protective Service by the Davis Council on Aging it is because that particular case is potentially hazardous to the elderly individual or individuals who are involved, Carlsen said. And if we cant get a response from the patients family the case is turned over to the County At- torneys Office. Neglecting the elderly ct is against the law," he said. According to officials in the Davis County Attorneys Office, 2 Utah Code states anyone who abuses, neglects or exploits a disabled adult can be charged e with a felony, which carrys a maximum prison sentence of five years. The word disabled in the code has been defined as anyone 8 years or older who is mentally, physically or emotionally impaired, or any individual who cannot care for his or her own ne55-9-- third-degre- 1 cessities. In offering an explanation for the increasing problem of neglect Carlsen said, I think everybody feels that when youre adult you can take care of yourself. Carlsen said every call his department has received on cases of neglect in the Davis County area have been valid, one way or the other. To handle the increase in calls, more services for the elderly will evolve as the need rises, he said. However, if an elderly person is proven competent he or she can elect to refuse any assistance offered. Carlsen said it is a very rare occurence when an individuals competency is overruled in a legal hearing. Council on Aging officials also shared opinions on the problem. The officials report problems of neglect to the state service. Were not finding a great deal of neglect. And when we find a case of neglect we turn it over to Legal help available A SALT LAKE CITY Utah university offering legal assistance for the elderly is expanding its services into Davis County due to the programs success. In 1985, the University of Utah College of Law received $60,000 from the Legal Services Corporation to create the Elderlaw Project. The project provides legal assistance to older Americans who are not able to come into a lawyers office. According to Ken Bresin, coordinator of the Elderlaw Project, the project has assisted many homebound and institutionalized senior citizens living in Salt Lake County with their legal problems. We are now ready to expand our services to the senior residents of Davis County, Bresin said. Bresin said the assistance program is available to all persons 60 years of age or older who reside in nursing homes, board and care facilities, or foster care homes, or who are confined to their own homes due to illness or injury, and who have limited incomes. University of Utah law students, under the supervision of an attorney, will come to the residence of the senior citizens to provide free legal services, he said. The project can help senior citizens with problems concerning public benefit programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and adult protective services issues, such as prevention or elimination of physical abuse, neglect or financial exploitation, Bresin said. Senior citizens will be referred to appropriate service providers for other types of problems, he said. For further information contact the Senior Citizen Law 1 in Salt Center at 328-889- Lake City. Health fair for kids, adults scheduled LAYTON The Davis CounStart Head Program is sponty soring a festival of health." The fair will be held from 9 a.m. to closing time on Friday, Oct. 31 and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. Along with numerous displays and booths, there will be blood clinics, pressure amblyopia screening and much health information will be available for children and adults. Dramatic arts class offered in Layton LAYTON Layton City Recreation is offering a childrens dramatic arts program for children in fourth- - through sixth-grade- s. The class will provide opportunities to help develop learn skills in speech and The children will also paracting. ticipate in acting out minor stage plays. 'The victim of abuse is often at the mercy of the one who is caring for them. Anybody can abuse. They do it for money, power, stress or out of insensitivity of ignorance.' Fred Carlsen, Davis County Adult Protective Services The class will be taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 to 6:30 in the Parks and Recreation arts and crafts classroom located at 437 Wasatch Drive. The fee is $15 for the eight-wee- k course. Registration is now being accepted and enrollment is limited. For more information call 544-345- 8. The first class will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 28 and will run to the Adult Protective Service, said Bonnie Conover, director of the alternative programming. Conover said she assumes one of the reasons for the low neglect rate in the county stems from the culture influence. But, if we were to find a case of neglect or abuse we would not hesitate to turn it over the proper authorities, she said. However, before a problem develops the Council on Aging staff offers several preventive programs for area senior citizens. Conover said some of the programs offered throughout the county include meals to the homebound, as well as an alternative program which provides services to the elderly who are in danger of nursing home placement." The alternative program, which home-deliver- ed began in 1978, is funded by the state through Weber and Davis counties and provides both companionship and assistance for the elderly who are homebound, she said. The county also offers a homemaker program for elderly and provides a private service to those who do not meet the requirements of the program. Conover said the services for the elderly all fall under the umbrella of the Davis County Council on Aging program. The Council on Aging programs even has a referral source if we cannot meet the need of the individual, she said. Council on Aging officials estimate approximately percent of the Davis County population was 60 years of age or older. low-inco- low-inco- 1 1 Dec. 18. Course on coping with divorce offered To help recently separated or divorced men and women learn to cope with their new status, an eight-wee- k discussion group called Coping Skills will begin Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Class members will have an opportunity to discuss such concerns as legal issues, helping children understand divorce, budgeting and new relationships. Emotional issues include copings with loneliness, dealing with feelings of guilt, handling anger, and letting go. There will be a $32 charge for the class, which is held at Davis County Mental Health Center at 470 E. Medical Drive in Bountiful. For more information or to register, call Bill Patenaude at 298-344- 6. See BRIEFS, page 9B I I i |