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.
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