Summit to Focus on Seniors, Caregivers

KNOXVILLE - On May 17, seniors and caregivers from a 17-county region of East Tennessee will come together for a summit on the issue of senior fraud and abuse.
"Communities Taking Action Against Fraud and Abuse" will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Knoxville Expo Center, 5441 Clinton Highway. Transportation from the participating counties will be provided.

Sevier County will be represented by County Mayor Larry Waters and delegates Lisa Yarber and Jo Ann Humphrey.

The conference is free, but registration can be made by calling (865) 215-3990 or online at www.knoxcounty.org/seniors/senior_summit_reg.php. Workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the exposition will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Limited health screenings will be provided. Workshop speakers and topics will include:

Lunch speaker: Rebecca Kelly, state director of AARP

Introductory session: John Bordenet, an expert in the field of fraud and abuse, will discuss fraud

Workshops: Topics include neglect and abuse; making informed decisions; repairing credit; where to go for help; and how to start a senior/watch coalition.

"This is a great opportunity and a great day for the East Tennessee region to work together to tackle this problem," District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn said.

"I am looking forward to working with the delegates to work on the prevention of abuse and fraud on seniors," Waters said.

Mayors and district attorney generals from East Tennessee announced in January this regional effort to reduce the cases of fraud and abuse of seniors and raise awareness of the problem.

A 2004 survey by the National Center on Elder Abuse found a 20 percent increase in the combined total of reports of elder and vulnerable adult abuse and neglect and a 15.6 percent increase in substantiated cases in the four years since the last survey was conducted in 2000.

Driving directions to the Knoxville Expo Center: Located just north of downtown Knoxville, off Clinton Highway, west of Interstate 75 and 1.5 miles north of Interstate 640. Take 1-75 to Merchants Drive (Exit 108). Turn west. The center is located at the corner of Clinton Highway and Merchants Drive.