The 20th annual Elder Abuse Prevention Conference in north Bakersfield encouraged hundreds of attendees to speak out against financial abuse.

District Attorney Lisa Green spoke at Thursday morning’s event and believes it can be hard for victims to come forward because they may be dementia patients or unwilling to testify against the family members and caregivers ripping them off.

Aging and Adult Services investigated more than 4,500 reports of abuse in Kern County last year, and 47% were financial abuse cases.

Kelli Forsch