KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Ed. Note: The following is the first in a continuing series on elder abuse and senior care resources for Santa Clarita residents.
A spate of alleged elder abuse cases, and the potential for the problem to grow with the nation’s aging demographic prompted KHTS News to reach out to local, regional and national resources to fight elder abuse.
Sponsored Articles
The National Center on Elder Abuse operates 26 federally funded centers, with the Los Angeles resource operating out of USC’s Keck School of Medicine.
(Click here for the podcast of the complete interview with Julie Schoen, deputy director of the NCEA.)
The resource center offers information to anyone who’s looking for more on all aspects of elder-abuse prevention and outreach, whether the abuse is physical, financial, emotional or a neglect situation, said Julie Schoen, deputy director of the NCEA.
(Click here for more information on the National Center on Elder Abuse.)
“If you have questions and inquiries, we want to hear from you,” Schoen said, “and get you to the right resources in your area, wherever that is, throughout the United States.”
She was quick to note the center is not an investigative agency, so it can’t follow up on abuse claims, but someone from the center can help someone with questions or concerns find the appropriate assistance.
While Schoen acknowledged the growth in an elderly demographic comes with a higher potential for abuse, the center focuses on building awareness and outreach to combat the problem.
Abuse can take place in any community, and many become victimized or become susceptible to abuse when people aren’t aware of some of the precautions that need to be taken, according to one local senior care provider.
“Elder abuse is, unfortunately, not something families think about until it becomes an issue,” said Rick Ferrante, of Santa Clarita Home Care Services, who works extensively with the senior population as a care provider. “Seniors are a very vulnerable part of our community, which makes it all the more important to be sure anyone that is caring for them has been screened, licensed, insured, trained, and their background checked. It is critical to make sure that any agency a family works with is licensed with the state and that the caregivers employed by them are licensed individually, as well. Making sure you work with a licensed and reputable agency is your first and most important line of defense.”
In addition to seniors, families with seniors and agencies that provide senior care, the center also works with law enforcement agencies on the educational component. One of the center’s current efforts include a collaboration with the Department of Justice to develop an app/web-based platform to help law enforcement officials identify “red flags” for spotting elder abuse when they arrive at a public safety service call.
“Isolation is probably at the root of so much of this abuse,” Schoen said, “that if we can get people connected, and have someone checking in on them, that’s half the battle.”
The following list of Santa Clarita Valley mental health resources was compiled by Larry Schallert, assistant director of the Student Health and Wellness Center at College of the Canyons
Senior Mental Health Resources – Santa Clarita Valley Area
Mental Health Services / Phone Number
ACCESS (DMH Mental Health Hotline) (800) 854-7771
Adult Protective Services (877) 477-3646
Alcoholics’ Anonymous (661) 259-0802
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (Text to 741-741) (800) 273-8255
Asian Pacific Counseling & Treatment Center (818) 267-1100
Bridge to Home Client Services Center (661) 254-4663
College of the Canyons Student Health & Wellness Center (661) 362-3259
Comfort Keepers (In Home Care) (661) 287-4200
Counseling West – Adult and Children Sherman Oaks (818) 990-9898
Department of Mental Health (DMH) ACCESS Line (PMRT) (800)854-7771
Depression & Bipolar Alliance (818) 850-DBSA
Didi Hirsch – Children & Adult Mental Health & Substance Abuse (888) 807-7250
Domestic Violence Center (Hotline) (661) 259-4357 (661)259-8175
Gay & Lesbian National Hotline (888) 843-4564
Genesis Field Capable Clinical Services, DMH (213) 351-7284
Grace Baptist Church (661) 296-8797
Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence (888) 792-2873
Help the Children (661) 702-8852
Henry Mayo Emergency (661) 200-1600
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Behavioral Health (661) 200-1080
Kaiser Behavioral Health (818)758-1200 (800) 700-8705
Los Angeles Department of Mental Health (800) 854-7771
Mission City Community Network Inc. (medication) (818)830-1008
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) (818) 994-6747
National Council On Alcohol & Drugs (661) 253-9400
Olive View Urgent Care (Mental Health) (818) 485-0888
Peer Support Crisis Chat (LGBTQ) (888) 843-4564
Regional Center( North Los Angeles County Regional Center) (661) 775-8450
Salvation Army Services (Canoga Park) (818) 883-6321
San Fernando Mental Health (DMH) (818) 832-2400
Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center (661) 259-9444
Santa Clarita Mental Health (DMH) (661) 288-4800
Santa Clarita Sherriff Dept. (LASD) in SCV (661) 255-1121
Santa Clarita Single Mother Outreach (661) 298-9593
Santa Clarita Valley Service Center (661) 254-0070
Strengths United (Hotline) (818) 886-0453 (Consultation Information) (818) 787-9700 and (661)253-0257
Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255
Sunrise Senior Living (661) 253-3551
Valencia Counseling Associates (661) 259-8200
Valley Coordinated Children Services (818) 708-4500
Valley Prevention & Treatment Center (661) 251-1023
Veterans Crisis Line (800) 273-8255 press 1
American Association of Retired People
California Department of Aging
College of the Canyons Student Health & Wellness Resource
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Behavioral Health Free and Confidential MH Screening
Los Angeles County Housing Resource Center
Los Angeles County Older Adults Program
Los Angeles County Workforce Development Aging and Community Services
Mental Health: It’s Part of All Our Lives 1-800- 789-2647
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
National Institute for Mental Health
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800- 273-TALK
SAMHSA Site for Coping with Disaster and Traumatic Events:
Santa Clarita City Mental Health Resource Page
Psychiatrists
Basta, Fawzy, MD. Adolescent & Adults (818)886-5628
Berglund, Robin, M.D.(818) 784-4706
Li, Eric MD (310) 442-9449
McDonald Mark, MD (310) 954-9564
Sassano-Higgins, Sean, MD (661) 414-4983
Steinberg, Lance, MD (818) 224-3540
Senior, Adults, Family Private Providers
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Psychologists
Carole Lutness, LCSW (661) 755-7524
Charlotte Strong, LCSW (661) 713-7798
Claudia, Janes, LMFT (661) 645-8282
Julie Criss-Hagerty, Ph.D. (661) 287-9751
Debbie Reed, M.S. LMFT (661) 287-4243
Dilyse Diaz, LMFT (Sp Sp) (661) 904-0113
Donna Resendez, LMFT (818) 486-4924
Helen Meek, LMFT (661) 259-6100
Greg Hamlin, Clinical Psychologist (661) 297-2326
Jeffrey, Lumaya, LCSW (661) 733-4434
John Dunn, Ph.D., PsyD (661) 255-8715
Lee Schulman, Ph.D. (661) 263-2680
Bonnie Mahler Ph.D. (661) 260-3131
Nancy Dunbar, Ph.D. (661) 288-2324
Richard, Posalski, LCSW (818) 773-9988
Lynne Steinman Ph.D. (661) 259-0144
Walter King, M.E.D., LMFT (661) 287-9337
Wendy Schultz, LMFT (661) 297-0362
Michelle Witkin Ph.D. (661) 753-3987
Janet Mister Ph.D. (661) 310-8410
Barbara Wilson LCSW (818) 517-9902
Medical
Gene Dorio MD (661) 254 – 5554
As Santa Clarita’s only local radio station, KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and sign up for KHTS email and text alerts today!
