News Article

Ohio’s elderly often victimized by addicted relatives, friends

Friday, March 24, 2017

by Columbus Dispatch

When the public and powers that be talk about the heroin crisis, they seldom mention a population that is fast becoming deeply affected: the country's elderly.

Often invisible and forgotten, they're increasingly being drained of their life savings, neglected or abused by addicted family members and friends on whom they depend for care, officials say.

Addiction to prescription painkillers among seniors also is growing, with older adults increasingly seeking emergency treatment or coming to the attention of authorities.

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170324/ohios-elderly-often-victimized-by-addicted-relatives-friends