Elder Services Unit

The Elder Services Unit of the State Attorney's Office was created in October 2000 to address the specific needs of senior victims of crime as defined in Florida Statutes 825.102, 825.103, 784.08.  The Unit was originally established with grant monies received from the Department of Community Affairs (BYRNE) and the Attorney General's Office (VOCA). The problem of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation continues to increase in Brevard and Seminole Counties and across the State of Florida. Elderly victims are many times victimized by family members and people they trust, making the investigation of these cases especially difficult. The Office of the State Attorney recognizes the need to pay close attention to these types of cases.

OPERATION SPOT CHECK

Operation Spot Check is a program created by the Attorney General's Office and implemented locally by the Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit. Operation Spot Check brings together various agencies to help combat elder abuse, neglect and exploitation in the health care community. The agencies have administrative, inspection, intervention and investigative duties and responsibilities regarding facilities that provide services to Florida's elderly and disabled citizens. Operation Spot Check agencies conduct unannounced inspections of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other health care facilities. By visiting without prior notice, a Spot Check team is able to fairly assess the level of care and services provided to facility residents. Existing regulatory agencies such as the Agency for Heath Care Administration (AHCA), Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Unit, Long Term Care Ombudsman, and local fire, building, and health department officials generally participate in Operation Spot Check. Facilities to be inspected are chosen based on a number of factors including the rating score given to them at the time of their annual inspections and the number of complaints received, but any facility may be inspected at any time. In addition to Operation Spot Check, participating agencies also conduct annual inspections of these facilities, per their own agency's mandated procedures.

For more information on Operation Spot Check, contact Brevard County Investigator Debbi Davis at (321) 617-7510 and Investigator Joe Mohr in Seminole County at (407) 665-6000, ext 6204.

Pictured below are Florida Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Investigators Delroy Thompson (left) and Paul Lester (right) surveying a nursing home in Brevard County.

Florida Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Investigators Delroy Thompson (left) and Paul Lester (right) surveying a nursing home in Brevard County.

 

Pictured below are City of Melbourne Fire Inspector James Carey (left) and City of Melbourne Building Inspector Koert Van Wormer conducting a survey at a Brevard County facility.

City of Melbourne Fire Inspector James Carey (left) and City of Melbourne Building Inspector Koert Van Wormer conducting a survey at a Brevard County facility.

Report Elder Abuse

REMEMBER if you see abuse, neglect of an elderly person or if you know of an elderly person that has been financially exploited, please call the Florida Abuse Registry at 1-800-96-ABUSE.  Your call is confidential!  Your call could save a life!

Other Sites of Interest to Seniors

Senior Resource Alliance 2012-13 Resource Directory
Florida Attorney General’s Seniors Vs. Crime Project
Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Florida Elder Crime Practitioner Designation
Brevard County Legal Aid
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
Aging Matters in Brevard
Florida Department of Business Regulation
One Senior Place

State Government Agencies

Florida Adult Protective Services
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Long Term Care Services
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
Florida Office of Attorney General
Florida Department of Children and Families: Domestic Violence

 

Laws and Regulations

Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Elderly Persons and Disabled Adults
Adult Protective Services

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