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Rise of 56% in elderly Jerusalemites' complaints of violence By Jonathan Lis Tags: crime, Elderly abuse, Israel Several months after the swollen eyes and bruised face of 79-year-old Jerusalem resident Rivka Buganim became the symbol of a wave of violent burglaries targeting the elderly, the Jerusalem municipality has noticed a sharp rise in the number of elderly residents who have filed complaints of neglect, violence or abuse. The past two years have seen a 56 percent rise in the number of such complaints, according to data the municipality's social services department is due to release today. Some of the complaints cite family members or caregivers as the culprits. But municipal officials said yesterday that the increase reflects increased awareness in the wake of media reports on the subject, rather than a rise in the actual number of attacks. Advertisement "We have witnessed an increase of dozens of percent in the number of elderly people who are seeking help from the social services bureaus due to violence, abuse or neglect," said Noa Stolman, a municipal social worker involved in protecting the elderly. "It is no longer possible to ignore this data. We must increase awareness of the harm being done to the city's elderly. The elderly in Jerusalem are worried about leaving their homes. We must find a way to give the elderly back their self-confidence, which was seriously damaged in the wake of the wave of reports of burglaries and abuse." The municipality provides social services, including protection and treatment, to some 35 percent of the city's elderly, or about 24,000 people. The police and the social services department will be holding a joint seminar today to discuss how to prevent violence against the elderly. The recent upsurge has sparked closer cooperation between the municipality and the police, which hold joint meetings with the elderly to explain how to request municipal or police assistance and how to protect themselves from burglars. Bookmark to del.icio.us   History undersea Israeli lifeguard stumbles upon ancient relic during morning swim. Elections, Hebrew style U.S. presidential hopefuls use Hebrew to woo the Jewish community.   1.   No - an increase in crime 22:09  |  A therapist. 14/07/08   2.   usual social worker blah blah 22:11  |  Sorry but... 14/07/08

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