A public forum on elder abuse, neglect and fraud will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. in Wall Auditorium at Coastal Carolina University. The event, which is being coordinated by Coastal's Center for Active Aging and Retirement, is free and open to the public.

"The purpose of this forum is to 'put a face' on elder abuse, neglect and fraud, as well as to let the community know what resources exist," said Jan Bowman, director of the Center.

A panel of professionals from the community will talk about the various aspects of elder abuse, neglect and fraud how to report suspected cases. The panel will consist of Dr. Brian Adler of South Strand Internists; Dale Watson, South Carolina state long-term Ombudsman; Officer Eric DiLorenzo of the Myrtle Beach Police Department; and Robin Morris, elder law attorney. The panelists will give an overview of how situations first come to the attention of professionals in the field and what course of action follows to resolve situations in which older persons are often victimized.

A second panel of experts will answer questions from the audience. This panel will include Mary Lou Brown, regional long-term care ombudsman; TeAnne Oehler, social worker; Phyllis James, mental health counselor; Rick Shelly, Department of Social Services, Ron Nolan, Coastal Federal Bank; Ian Robinson, Better Business Bureau, as well as local clergy. The forum is open to professionals as well as the general public.

For more information about the forum or CEU credits, call The Center for Active Aging and Retirement at CCU at 349-6531.