I just want to remind Guam that Abuse of the elderly is, sadly, a very common occurrence, both across the nation and here in Guam, despite the Chamorro culture’s emphasis on respect for our manamko’.

According to Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of Health and Human Services, “an estimated one in 10 older Americans experiences some kind of abuse.” In Guam, there are more than 200 cases of elderly abuse every year, according to the Department of Public Health’s Adult Protective Services.

And this abuse comes in many different forms. Some senior citizens endure physical abuse, others are bullied or face some other form of mental or emotional abuse. Sometimes, the abuse is in the form of neglect, and some are financially exploited. Too often, abuse comes at the hands of their loved ones.

Many of these seniors are too proud or ashamed to report abuse, or don’t want to get their family members in trouble. From a community standpoint, many often don’t recognize the signs of elder abuse, or think it’s not their business.

These kinds of attitudes need to change, and that can only happen by increasing awareness among seniors and the community at large. We need stronger outreach efforts at senior citizen centers and in the villages. Posters with contact numbers of agencies and organizations that can help should be put up at every senior center and mayor’s office.

The federal government is working to “coordinate previously disconnected elder abuse initiatives across the federal government and determine what further actions are necessary to better protect our senior citizens,” Sebelius recently wrote in a column for USA TODAY. Here in Guam, we must try to do the same.

In the Chamorro culture, our manamko’ are supposed to be respected, cherished, taken care of and honored. They have endured and given so much over the course of their lives.

If we are to live up to this ideal, we must do much more to prevent abuse of the elderly. Our manamko’ deserve no less.

Lea

I believe I speak for many when I say you will be missed. Truly, I hope your silence doesn’t excite the bigots here. Your perspective was always enlightening and I liked to believe, eye-opening for the many white people here who read your words.

Take care of yourself, and good luck.

/SB

It is fondly received and very much appreciated.

Robert,rt

Guam – The national statistics are alarming: more than five children die every day as a result of child abuse and most of those children are under the age of 4. “For Guam, I believe that sexual abuse comes third in ranking from physical abuse to physical neglect to sexual abuse,” said Lydia Tenorio, administrator for Child Protective Services.

Even more frightening, the statistics indicate that most all juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way. “I think that the community needs to know that it’s no longer who you don’t know but who you do know,” she said.

Here on Guam we’ve seen this first hand, for example recently a former Untalan Middle School basketball coach pleaded guilty to sexually molesting a teenager for ten years. The abuse started when the victim was 7. Two JFK coaches were arrested in recent weeks accused of having sex with their students while on campus, another teacher at Untalan Middle School was recently indicted by a Superior Court grand jury on charges of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct and child abuse.

“I think it’s sad that you have people in authority and control over children who take advantage of this and I think that education and awareness that while we tend to say don’t talk to strangers and avoid strangers, but the reality is unfortunately are the caregivers those who actually have some type of responsibility over the children,” she said.

Tenorio adds the recent conviction of former long time Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky should awaken the nation’s conscience. Sandusky was convicted of sexually assaulting close to one dozen boys over a 15-year period. His arrest led to the firing of Penn State hall of fame coach Joe Paterno and the university’s president for failing to report the abuse to proper authorities.

“I think that the national case now in the Sandusky case that had just occurred. Hopefully that will raise even more awareness and prevention. It’s sad because it’s likely that a lot of victimization has likely been going on so I think it’s encouraging for the victims who have yet to come out or who may be victims at this time, to say that there is justice to the system.”

“They’re also now relooking and rethinking about the definition of a mandatory reporting person, because as we know, folks within or at least its alleged within that institution had known about it and never really reported it and so there are those mandatory laws and definitions that probably need to be a little more updated,” she said.

Tenorio who has been at the forefront of the battle to protect and keep our island’s children safe says the cycle of abuse has to stop, unfortunately if it goes unreported it will likely continue. “And we have to remember that the children are the helpless ones and that part of the dynamics with children who are victimized is that they get victimized over and over again and it’s at a certain age when they find the courage to come out after it’s happened so many times,” she said.

In the meantime, Tenorio says her office is here to help and willing to host workshops for groups and organizations to promote awareness and prevention. And for those of you at home watching or listening on the radio that might be scared to come forward.

She said, “I just encourage those that are victims to report to Child Protective Services. If you don’t want to go through any type of formal system law enforcement or report to some adult you can trust that you know will help you in this process, and one way or another we’ll be there as a department to help.”

The number for Child Protective Services is 475-2672 or 2653.
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Guam, we can and we need to do better by our children. Please report any suspicions of child abuse to the proper authorities, The number for Child Protective Services is 475-2672 or 2653.

Hafa Adai

Anna