When a son comes home and angrily screams at his mother, "if you don't give me your money, I'm going to kick you out!"-that is elder abuse.

When an elder leaves something on the stove that begins to smoke or spills coffee grounds all over, and the family member's response is, "how stupid can you be! You can't cook any more. Don't eat until I get home!"-that is elder abuse.

When a family member threatens an elder, "I'm going out now and you'd better not answer the phone or let anyone in!" -that's elder abuse.

These examples of elder abuse are part of the educational outreach of the Long-term Care Ombudsman program. In all of our community presentations we discuss the meaning of elder abuse and services which help prevent it.

As the program's social work intern this year and a member of the Karuk Tribe of California, I am contacting most of the local rancherias and Native American services to bring them information about this little understood issue of elder abuse and prevention. Our outreach also lets people know about services that will help elders stay at home as long as possible. If they can't stay at home, then we talk about the Family Assistance Program which helps families make the decision about long-term placement and about the Ombudsman program which assists families and residents of long-term care.

Nina Wilcox of Senior Information and Assistance and I have been visiting with Humboldt tribal members and listening to their questions. Many people did not know the definition of elder abuse, and others still wanted to provide housing for their elders even if they were ill. They were interested to learn of home-based services provided through public health nursing, transportation, home health care, in-home support services and public benefits.

Colleen Thornton is graduating in May from Humboldt State University with a Bachelor's in Social Work. She participates in the Indian Teachers Education Personnel Program, a campus organization which encompasses Native American information and community service. She is going to Washington DC after graduation as one of 12 Morris Udall Native American Summer Congressional Interns.