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Potential Elder Abuse Leads to San Antonio?s First Homicide of the Year

By Beth Janicek

San Antonio's first homicide of 2010 involved Ralph Wayne Nunley, who is accused of killing his mother. Floy Nunley was found dead in her bed with wounds to her hands and face.

Ralph Wayne Nunley, 57, was also convicted of assaulting his father, Omar Nunley. APS launched an investigation last summer after Ms. Nunley was hospitalized in July. Her son was overheard asking about her finances, and yelling and threatening to have her declared incompetent. However, like many elderly victims, Floy Nunley refused help and denied that her son had threatened her.

A comprehensive national survey on elder abuse found that victims in substantiated reports tended to be women, and reports also show that excluding self-neglect, half of abused elders were at least 80 years of age. Ms. Nunley was 83.

Texas APS confirmed that in the last fiscal year, there were 48,380 cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving adults living a home, most of them elderly. The number of in-home cases investigated has doubled in the last 10 years, which can be attributed to the state's growing population of older adults. Another reason for the rise in abuse and neglect is unemployment, which I previously did a blog on (Elder Abuse on the Rise Due to the Recession). Inadequate access to proper health care or home health services can also lead to stress on the family resulting in some form of elder abuse.

In Texas, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (TDADS) was created to administer long-term services and support for people who are aging and who have cognitive and physical disabilities. TDADS can be contacted regarding suspected abuse at 1-800-458-9858, and at 1-800-252-8016 for Nursing Home Information. The Adult Protective Services (APS) Program under the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, is responsible for investigating abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities in facilities that include: private homes, adult foster homes, unlicensed room and board, state facilities and community centers that provide mental health and mental retardation services, home health agency staff, exploitation in nursing homes when the alleged perpetrator is someone outside the facility. Abuse can be reported at the Abuse Hotline for APS Facility Investigations at 1-800-647-7418.

Even with the increasing amount of cases reported, a large majority of cases go unreported. If you know about someone who is elderly that is being abused or neglected it is important to report it.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Full post as published by San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer on January 13, 2010 (boomark / email).