A large group of Milton folks joined Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey at his 2012 Senior Summit, learning how criminals target older citizens, ways to avoid becoming a victim, and hearing from a national expert on the phenomenon of hoarding.

 “Criminals target senior citizens for a number of reasons – many have accumulated substantial assets, from homes owned outright to retirement savings,” District Attorney Morrissey said.

Milton seniors including Louise Voveris, Peggy Flaherty, Jeanne Leslie, Natalie Fultz, Ed McGowan, Mary McMahon, Cathy Foley, Eileen Colbert, Barbara Stoller, Nancy Stuart, Mary Ann Sullivan, Joan Cully, Mary McLaughlin and Jim McCarthy joined several area police and fire chiefs at the event, held at Christina’s in Foxborough.

Members of the audience volunteered information from their own experience that memory problems, physical disability or injury, hearing problems, embarrassment, and a fear of losing independence have led to seniors being targeted by criminals.

DA Morrissey and assistant district attorney Phil Burr also reinforced some of the warning signs seniors should look for: people who come door-to-door offering home repair or other services; ask for more than 1/3 down on a home repair project; insist on being paid in cash; or start doing work before getting your permission. 

“I was very pleased to have Christina Bratiotis, co-author of ‘The Hoarding Handbook,’ present on the growing public health and safety problem of compulsive hoarding in our communities,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “This year we asked the senior center directors and area professionals what safety topic they would most like to hear addressed at the summit, and hoarding was the clear first choice.”

 In addition to Bratiotis’ presentation on current research into hoarding and what friends and professionals can do when they recognize its signs, the District Attorney presented every town’s COA head, police chief or fire chief a reference copy of “The Hoarding Handbook.” 

The above release was provided by the Norfolk District Attorney's Office.