Welcome to the NYC Elder Abuse Center’s (NYCEAC) revamped news and resource roundup blog, The Field Guide. We’ve selected and analyzed the most helpful articles and resources relevant to elder justice professionals for February and March 2016. If you would like to share a news item or resource with us, please contact us at info@nyceac.org or via our Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Trending Topics in the News

Financial Abuse – In February and March 2016, we saw many high-profile articles about elder financial abuse.  The following represent some of the most compelling stories that we read in the field.

Financial Advisors Empowered To Protect Older Clients
The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) has voted to adopt a model act designed to protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation. New rules would empower brokers or advisors to impose an initial delay of disbursements from an account of an eligible adult for up to 15 business days if financial exploitation is suspected.

 

Bank Tellers With Access To Accounts Have Potential For Elder Financial Abuse
Though cyber theft receives a lot of publicity, retail branch employees are tapping into customers’ personal information and their cash, according to this recent NY Times article.  Older adults, particularly those with direct deposits from government entities such as Social Security, are at greater risk.

 

Elder Financial Abuse Is A Public Health Issue
Elder financial abuse has been formally established as a public health issue for the first time by a new Centers for Disease Control report.

 

 

Countering Ageism

Elder abuse has roots in ageism. NYCEAC is committed to changing the way aging is perceived.  For more information about ageism and to view additional resources, please visit our Countering Ageism webpage. These are some of the items we read in February and March that champion against ageism prejudices.

 

Ageism isn’t Cool
Ashton Applewhite, speaker, blogger and author is interviewed about one of the last widely accepted prejudices, ageism.  Applewhite is ambitious about changing perceptions of aging and asks: “Why should I accept the notion that the present-day me is inferior to the younger me?”

 

How Social Media Can Help Stamp out Ageism
The power of social media to ‪‎counter ageism and change the way we perceive older adults is explored in this compelling Huffington Post article.  The social engagement aspect of social media creates instant advocacy opportunities and offers the community an entry point into larger conversations about society.

 

Elder Justice Champion

Champions are people or organizations who are advancing the field of elder justice through innovation, strategic partnerships, new programs and initiatives, and/or good old-fashioned elbow grease.  We are featuring the National Center on Elder Abuse for its role in bringing the community together through elder justice Twitter chats.

Twitter Chats with Impact #NCEAnow
The National Center on Elder Abuse (@NCEAatUSC) and Ageless Alliance (@AgelessAlliance) have launched a series of Twitter Chats on various subjects pertinent to the field of elder justice. These chats promote open discourse on topics related to elder abuse and elder justice and feature experts in the field as special guests. The last Twitter Chat was on the subject of Undue Influence and featured guest speaker Adria Navarro, PhD, LCSW.  Prior chats summaries are stored on Storify.  Chats are hosted every third Thursday  at 2:00 PM Eastern. Participate by searching #NCEAnow on Twitter.

Research, Resources & Policy 

Each Field Report, we feature a roundup of new and relevant resources, research and policy for elder justice practitioners.

Financial Abuse Advisory and Report from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has released an advisory and report for banks and credit unions on how they can better protect older consumers from financial abuse.

 

 

Report On Financial Capacity Determination
The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report in March informing social security’s process for financial capability determination.

Spotting Elder Abuse In The ER
The American College of Emergency Physicians has just released this important article on spotting elder abuse in the ER.

Elder Abuse In The African American Community
The NCEA released a new research publication entitled Mistreatment of African American Elders. This brief synthesizes recent information and research findings related to the mistreatment of African American elders, particularly financial exploitation and psychological abuse.

New Issue of Journal Of Elder Abuse & Neglect  (JEAN)
The latest issue of the JEAN is out! This issue features articles on resident-to-resident abuse, the correlates of self-neglect and depression, the validation of a financial decision-making scale, and an exploratory study of elder abuse in Bangalore, India.

 

National Adult Protective Services (Two-Part Report)
The National Adult Protective Services Resource Center (NAPSRC) has released a new report, in two parts, on Lessons Learned from Research and Practice and Innovative Practices from the Field. Topics include elder financial abuse, and collaborating with other systems outside of Adult Protective Services.

Conferences, Trainings & Events

Check out upcoming events for elder justice professionals on our regularly updated online Events Calendar.