Re-Release of Paradise Costs-a Victim's Daughter Fights Back Against Elder Abuse Marks International Elder Awareness Day; June 15, 2008
Bennett Blum, MD, a geriatric psychiatrist & columnist Irene Masiello have joined forces to educate Americans about a national pandemic: elder abuse & exploitation. Driven by horrific statistics indicating as many as one-in-three boomers may be victims & a projection by the AMA stating it will take 30-40 yrs. before awareness of elder abuse reaches what child abuse has currently, the authors offer readers a must read, Paradise Costs, depicting what elder abuse is.
New York, NY, June 17, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Bennett Blum, M.D., internationally acclaimed forensic and geriatric psychiatrist and an expert in undue influence, has added his pioneering work to that of author Irene A. Masiello in Paradise Costs-A Victim's Daughter Fights Back Against Elder Abuse , the heart-wrenching story of an infirm, 80-year-old man with Alzheimer's who was taken from his family, stripped of his assets and exploited despite the pleas of his next of kin.
Driven by grim statistics from national elder advocacy groups indicating there may be more than 25 million cases of elder exploitation in America, Dr. Blum and Ms. Masiello have joined forces to inform readers via a compelling true story while providing professional assessment guidelines that are used internationally.
Masiello supports her father's tragic story with his suspicious forensic report exemplifying a terrifying reality facing the elderly in America today. Mario Masiello, a hearing-impaired, honorably discharged, World War II veteran, retired from the NYC Transit Authority and relocated to the quaint town of Walterboro, SC. Twenty years later, his blissful life was ravaged by the death of his wife and by several illnesses including diabetes, Alzheimer's and depression. Paradise Costs tells the chilling true story of the last years of his life when he was "grandpa-napped" from his family by neighbors and "friends."
The American Psychological Association estimates that approximately 2.1 million senior citizens are victims of physical and psychological neglect and abuse every year. Many cases go unreported. Ms. Masiello's objective is to provide a voice to the millions of silent or ignored victims. "I never thought this type of betrayal and brutality could happen in my family," says his daughter. "My experience has made me realize how little people know about the deadly American pandemic that is elder abuse."
Created in a workbook format, Paradise Costs shows Americans how to take action in support of federal legislation to stop elder abuse now. The sample letters and petitions (which are also available at the website: wwwParadiseCosts.com) are designed to help readers voice their concerns to federal officials.
"I'm urging participation via our interactive book and web site to lobby legislators to pass the Elder Justice Act now on the floor of both Houses of Congress," says the author. "Hopefully, others will be spared the suffering my father was forced to endure, and their families will not have to look on helplessly in horror as mine did."
Dr. Blum states, "Paradise Costs is a tragic, true-life tale. Unfortunately, the behaviors depicted in this book are all too common. No one knows how often criminals, 'brand new best friends' or family members exploit the elderly…Money has always been associated with the worst of human behavior. Elder financial abuse is no exception. Some of those taking assets from the elderly have been tied to gang violence, prostitution and drug trafficking. Their elderly victims are often subjected to physical abuse, neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse and murder."
Recognizing the difficulty of the aftermath of this tragedy, Ms. Masiello is determined not to let her father's death be in vain. "My goal now is to take my story to the nation and raise awareness of this deplorable social ill that's plaguing America," she says.
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Dr. Blum and Ms. Masiello are members of the Elder Justice Coalition
Reach Dr. Blum at BennettBlum@aol.com
www.BennettBlumMD.com
Reach Irene Masiello at IreneAMasiello@cs.com
Contact Vine Communications, Coral Cables, FL: info@vinecommunicationsinc.com
Driven by grim statistics from national elder advocacy groups indicating there may be more than 25 million cases of elder exploitation in America, Dr. Blum and Ms. Masiello have joined forces to inform readers via a compelling true story while providing professional assessment guidelines that are used internationally.
Masiello supports her father's tragic story with his suspicious forensic report exemplifying a terrifying reality facing the elderly in America today. Mario Masiello, a hearing-impaired, honorably discharged, World War II veteran, retired from the NYC Transit Authority and relocated to the quaint town of Walterboro, SC. Twenty years later, his blissful life was ravaged by the death of his wife and by several illnesses including diabetes, Alzheimer's and depression. Paradise Costs tells the chilling true story of the last years of his life when he was "grandpa-napped" from his family by neighbors and "friends."
The American Psychological Association estimates that approximately 2.1 million senior citizens are victims of physical and psychological neglect and abuse every year. Many cases go unreported. Ms. Masiello's objective is to provide a voice to the millions of silent or ignored victims. "I never thought this type of betrayal and brutality could happen in my family," says his daughter. "My experience has made me realize how little people know about the deadly American pandemic that is elder abuse."
Created in a workbook format, Paradise Costs shows Americans how to take action in support of federal legislation to stop elder abuse now. The sample letters and petitions (which are also available at the website: wwwParadiseCosts.com) are designed to help readers voice their concerns to federal officials.
"I'm urging participation via our interactive book and web site to lobby legislators to pass the Elder Justice Act now on the floor of both Houses of Congress," says the author. "Hopefully, others will be spared the suffering my father was forced to endure, and their families will not have to look on helplessly in horror as mine did."
Dr. Blum states, "Paradise Costs is a tragic, true-life tale. Unfortunately, the behaviors depicted in this book are all too common. No one knows how often criminals, 'brand new best friends' or family members exploit the elderly…Money has always been associated with the worst of human behavior. Elder financial abuse is no exception. Some of those taking assets from the elderly have been tied to gang violence, prostitution and drug trafficking. Their elderly victims are often subjected to physical abuse, neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse and murder."
Recognizing the difficulty of the aftermath of this tragedy, Ms. Masiello is determined not to let her father's death be in vain. "My goal now is to take my story to the nation and raise awareness of this deplorable social ill that's plaguing America," she says.
###
Dr. Blum and Ms. Masiello are members of the Elder Justice Coalition
Reach Dr. Blum at BennettBlum@aol.com
www.BennettBlumMD.com
Reach Irene Masiello at IreneAMasiello@cs.com
Contact Vine Communications, Coral Cables, FL: info@vinecommunicationsinc.com
Contact
Starlight Network News, Inc.
Irene Masiello
718-776-5644
www.ParadiseCosts.com
ireneamasiello@cs.com
Irene Masiello
718-776-5644
www.ParadiseCosts.com
ireneamasiello@cs.com
Contact
Multimedia
Paradise Costs-A Victim's Daughter Fights Back Against Elder Abuse
Internationally acclaimed forensic & geriatric psychiatrist, Bennett Blum, MD & NYC based columnist, Irene A. Masiello, join forces to educate Americans about elder abuse & exploitation featuring Dr. Blum's pioneering assessment techniques to evaluate & identify undue influence.
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