Published: January 29, 2009 01:43 am      

ROYALTON: Arrest puts spotlight on elder abuse

ROYALTON — A Royalton woman has been charged with attempted murder in the wake of what sheriff’s deputies are calling a case of elder abuse.

Deborah A. Kozody, 49, of 5324 Royalton Center Road, was arrested Tuesday and charged with second-degree attempted murder, accused of trying to suffocate an elderly family member in her care.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Steve Preisch said a concerned family member called 911 about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to report some injuries to one of Kozody’s relatives, who is in their 70s.

Deputies were not releasing any further information about the victim, including the gender or exact age.

Kozody had reportedly been responsible for taking the victim to appointments and helping them with “day-to-day things,” Preisch said.

When deputies arrived, they found the victim had some minor injuries, including “some minor cuts,” he said.

The injuries did not require hospitalization, the report said.

Kozody was brought in for questioning, and after consulting with the Niagara County District Attorney’s office, deputies decided to charge her with attempted murder.

She was arraigned Tuesday in Royalton Town Court and held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

She will undergo a medical evaluation as part of the investigation, which is continuing.

“My understanding is that this started the previous evening and slowly escalated, with tempers being shortened to the point where (it) goes from more of a verbal-type domestic argument to a physical,” Preisch said.

He said deputies are not releasing much specific information about the incident because of the ongoing investigation.

“We want to ensure our investigation is complete ... (and) give the family time to allow themselves to adjust and understand,” he said.

Silent victims

Elder abuse is a crime that, statistically, often goes unreported.

“We don’t hear about it that often, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen,” Preisch said. “It’s always a difficult thing to look at because of all the intricacies of it.”

At the Dale Association, Senior Counselor Kathy Austin has seen some severe cases of elder abuse.

Taking care of an elderly person can be very stressful, she said, and sometimes caregivers take advantage.

“A lot of this occurs when a caregiver is overwhelmed,” she said, adding anyone caring for an elderly person who feels stress is overtaking them should seek help.

“I would think if you notice you’ve started yelling at somebody and slapping them ... when you see yourself doing that, you’re overwhelmed and you need some help,” she said.

Maureen Wendt, director of marketing and development for the Dale Association, said most elder abuse is perpetrated by family members.

“There’s a lot of issues that prevent the senior person from seeking out help, because they’re afraid their caregiver is going to go away,” Wendt said. “There’s the intimidation. ... It’s usually hidden, because of the shroud of family secrecy.”

Statistics show that for every incident of elder abuse that is reported, as many as 5 to 14 others go unreported. More than 2 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse every year, Wendt said.

She said almost half of those being abused are physically not able to care for themselves.

‘Help Me’

The abuse can be physical, emotional or financial. Austin said she’s seen examples of all three.

She said she recalls the story of a woman with terminal cancer whose son convinced her to move in with him. He had soon cut her off from her friends and other family members, and was using her money for his own needs.

“He really controlled just about everything,” she said.

When Austin finally was able to visit the woman, the woman secretly handed her a small sheet of paper on which she had written a simple message: “Help me.”

Anyone who suspects elder abuse has several avenues to seek help.

The National Center of Elder Abuse has a hot line for New York Residents: 1 (800) 342-3009, option 6.

Locally, Austin said, people can call the Dale Association at 433-1886.

“The important thing is to try to get them to safety,” Austin said. “All they really want is for this to stop. They don’t want their family members to go to jail, they just want this to stop.”

Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.

SIGNS OF ABUSE

Dale Association Senior Counselor Kathy Austin said if a person exhibits several of the following symptoms, they may be a victim of elder abuse:

• Frequent injuries such as cuts, burns, broken bones, bruises or welts

• Deydration or malnutrition

• Depression

• Change in level of alertness

• Changes in financial situation

• Poor hygiene

• Weight loss

• Soiled clothing or bed

• Hesitation to talk openly

• Making contradictory statements or telling implausible stories

• Mood swings, including unexplained anger

For more information, call the Dale Association at 433-1886 or visit the National Center for Elder Abuse at www.ncea.aoa.gov.