Time flies when you’re blogging! We are proud to announce the two-year anniversary of NYCEAC’s Elder Justice Dispatch Blog. Keeping in the tradition we began last year, in order to celebrate, we have summarized ten blogs from the past year and provide links to you for further reading. We are excited to share ten great blogs from the July 2013 – June 2014 stellar blog collection that collectively discuss myriad elder justice issues – from elder abuse in popular culture to podcast interviews with leaders in the field. 

Elder Justice Roadmap

We are equally as excited to announce a huge step in elder justice that has just taken place: the publishing of The Elder Justice Roadmap Project Report, a document “for the field, by the field.” While we encourage you to read the ten selected blogs featured, we also urge to view our recent blog on the Roadmap Report, as well as read the actual Roadmap itself.

Elder Abuse Prevention

WEAAD2014-Butterfly-Final-Graphic-400pxIn this blog, Increasing Social Integration and Preventing Elder Abuse, Dr. Janet Wolfe discusses the importance of keeping older adults connected to others as a means of preventing elder abuse. Oftentimes, isolation leads to abuse, so by keeping older adults integrated socially, this problem can be reduced. Wolfe includes practical tips for older adults interested in replenishing their friendship network in this blog.

DEAR-Brochure-Thumbnail2Dental Elder Abuse is a serious problem. If older people do not receive the dental care they need, it can lead to much more severe problems. In this blog, An Innovative Canadian Program Prevents Dental Elder Abuse, a case describing a scenario of dental elder abuse is discussed to provide readers with an understanding of dental abuse. The blog then describes the D.E.A.R. project (Dental Elder Abuse Response), which was created by Dr. Natalie Archer and Laura Tamblyn Watts in response to dental elder abuse.

Ageism & Elder Justice: A Podcast Interview with Karl Pillemer, Ph.D.

In this podcast, Ageism, Elder Justice & The Legacy Project, Dr. Karl Pillemer draws on his years of work in the fields of aging and elder abuse to illustrate the severity of ageism in our society and points to ways ageism holds back our attempts to create elder justice. Pillemer describes how his Legacy Projectwhich mines interviews with thousands of older adults to share their “lessons for living”, can be used in reducing and/or preventing ageism.

The Forensics of Elder Abuse: Clues to Solving the Puzzle

Photo Credit: echerries

Photo Credit: echerries

In this blog, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine – and geriatrician on NYCEAC’s MDTs – Dr. Veronica LoFaso explains how forensic medicine can help practitioners detect elder abuse. Many victims of elder abuse do not disclose their abuse, so it is important that practitioners are trained to detect abuse so that cases do not go unnoticed and untreated.

Innovative Program Shines Light on Civil Attorney’s Role in Elder Abuse Cases

This blog highlights JASA’s ground-breakingprogram: Legal, Social Work, Elder Abuse Program (LEAP). LEAP offers social work and civil legal services specifically tailored to the complex needs of elder abuse victims. The blog includes a description of the program

Elder Abuse in the Media

When “Amour” Leads to Elder Abuse: Portrayal in Film is a discussion about Academy Award-winning film, Amour. The blog uses the movie to frame an important discussion about love and abuse, not only as portrayed in the movie, but in real life scenarios as well.

Our Pulitzer-Prize Winning, Best-Selling Author, Victim of Elder Abuse blog features a discussion about the coverage of the elder financial abuse case involving 87 year-old Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird. The blog uses Harper Lee’s story as a foundation to discuss the prevalence of financial abuse cases. The blog includes an eye-opening perspective on the frequency of such cases.

Are Cameras in Nursing Homes to Document Elder Abuse a Good Idea?

Photo Credit: Ario Bates

Photo Credit: Ario Bates

NYCEAC’s Medical Director, Dr. Mark Lachs, uses this blog to provide his reflections on the Huffington Post about the growing trend of surveillance cameras being used by family members in nursing homes to document elder abuse. This important topic raises serious ethical issues and thus this blog post elicited many responses.

Elder Abuse in Prison

In this blog, Neglect Me Not: Elder Abuse in Prisons, Dr. Tina Maschi paints a picture of the abuse and neglect experiences that older adults in prison face and highlights the importance of professionals recognizing the needs of this population. Otherwise, as a hidden and stigmatized population, their needs can easily remain unrecognized and unaddressed.

Elder Abuse in the LGBT Community

The blog, Elder Abuse & LGBT Older Adult: Recent News & Research, discusses a population that is faced with extreme risk for abuse. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults not only face abuse risks all older adults confront, but in addition, deal with homophobia as well. This blog heightens awareness and shines light on research findings that address the unique needs and experiences of LGBT elder abuse victims.
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We are eager to hear your thoughts on these blogs and other elder justice issues. Please leave a comment below!

One Response to 10 Elder Justice Blogs to Inform & Inspire

  1. Kevin Vidal says:

    August 7, 2020

    Elder abuse is horrific. Ultimately one person (especially in large families) gets left with the responsibility to care for their elderly parents and themselves, without help or support, and sabotage, from resentful siblings. This usually resolves in the sole caregiver becoming very ill, in the process of caring for another who is frail. This is was my scenario for over 4 years. But, I have no regrets. Some six years later, I am still grieving for my mother and how my siblings and their cohorts conspired, all in self-interest, greed, power, and jealously.

    I am committed to calling this out. …especially for mothers and fathers. They are sacred to God, as written in the 10 commandments.

    I am having grief now. I wrote a poem about my feelings for my mother. Kevy Michaels.

    https://kevymichaels.blog/2020/08/07/if-u-cared-for-ur-mother-now-she-is-gone-u-will-like-this-post-if-u-neglected-her-or-conspired-to-go-to-hell/

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