Welcome to the NYC Elder Abuse Center’s (NYCEAC) news and resource roundup blog, The Field Guide. We’ve selected and analyzed pertinent articles and resources relevant to elder justice professionals from November 2018 to February 2019. If you would like to share a news item or resource with us, please contact us at info@nyceac.com or via our Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn profiles.
Trending Topics in the News
Nassau District Attorney Office rolls out first Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) in Long Island
“Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced her office was creating Long Island’s first ever multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to tackle elder abuse in this New York state county.” Starting January, the MDT will meet monthly to complex discuss cases and create plans to reduce the risk of abuse and provide services for victims. The team consists of professionals from Adult Protective Services, Office for the Aging, law enforcement, health care, non-profit social services, financial services, and civil legal services.
New Tool for Documenting Injuries may Provide Better Evidence for Elder Abuse Cases
“Geriatric experts created the Geriatric Injury Documentation Tool (Geri-IDT) to standardize the process of documenting physical injuries on older adult patients and make the medical record more thorough. The tool emerged from a new study led by Laura Mosqueda, MD, dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC and professor of family medicine. The study confirms the need for improved documentation, detailing what experts believe are the most effective factors to achieve it.”
SCAM ALERT: Beware Of Fake Social Security Number Calls
The Federal Trade Commission released a blog about recent social security number (SSN) scam calls. The scammers claim the consumer’s SSN was linked to a crime, and directed the consumer to withdraw money from their account. Don’t respond to calls about your SSN even if the caller ID says “SSA” or 1-800-772-1213. If you’re unsure, call the SSA yourself at 1-800-772-1213. Spread the word about this scam and let your community know the calls are fake.
“I’m Petitioning…For The Return Of My Life.”
The heart-breaking article that inspired our November 2018 blog, No Time to Lose: Ideas for Improving Guardianship in NYS, sheds light on abusive guardianship practices happening in our communities. Phyllis Funke’s story demonstrates how guardianship can be both a safeguard against – and a source of – elder abuse.
Enhanced Multidisciplinary Team (EMDT) Launches in Queens!
Kristen Kane, chief of the Elder Fraud Unit at the Queens District Attorney’s Office, moderated a panel on elder abuse at the Queens NY Interagency Council on Aging. Professionals from various fields and service providers were brought together to discuss their role and impact on how vulnerable elders in Queens receive services. The NYC Elder Abuse Center was delighted to present on its recently launched Queens EMDT.
Research, Resources & Policy
Each Field Report, we feature a roundup of new and relevant resources, research and policy for elder justice practitioners.
“The New York State Office of Victim Services’ (OVS) RFA provides an expanded opportunity for NYS victim service providers to respond to the challenge of finding new solutions for serving victims of crime, developing innovative and comprehensive ways of meeting their needs and reaching underserved populations such as elder abuse victims.” Application Due Date: April 3rd at 2 pm EST
“ACL wants to hear your best thoughts and ideas for the future activities of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC). The EJCC coordinates activities related to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation across the federal government. ACL wants to know what issues you think the EJCC should prioritize over the next two years. You can submit comments electronically to ejcc@acl.hhs.gov with “Thoughts and Ideas” in the subject line through September 30, 2019.”
Resources to Help You Respond to Elder Abuse Now
“A compilation that identifies national, state, and local resources to report elder abuse and financial exploitation. It includes resources to find help for victims, caregivers and more.”
Suspicious Activity Reports on Elder Financial Exploitation: Issues and Trends
“This report presents the findings of a study of elder financial exploitation Suspicious Activity Reports (EFE SARs) filed with the federal government by financial institutions such as banks and money services businesses between 2013 and 2017. The findings provide an opportunity to better understand the complex problem of elder financial exploitation and to identify ways to improve prevention and response.”
ACL Releases Second Year of National Data on Adult Maltreatment
“Administration for Community Living (ACL) has released new nationally collected data on the exploitation and abuse of older adults and adults with disabilities. This report is the second annual release based on 2017 data from the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS), which is a voluntary data reporting system collecting data from state and local Adult Protective Services systems.”
The Social Security Administration (SSA) was seeking public comments on the Representative Payee Program. This is the official notice from SSA about what comments they were looking for regarding their Representative Payee program.
Rural and Tribal Elder Justice Resource Guide
The United States Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture hosted the first Rural and Tribal Elder Justice Summit and created a guide to support efforts to combat elder abuse and exploitation in rural and tribal communities.
On November 28, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on guardianship issues. You can watch the hearing and read statements and testimony here. In conjunction with a hearing, the US Senate’s Special Committee on Aging also released a report on guardianship issues. The report focuses on three key areas that should be addressed: oversight of guardians and guardianship arrangements, alternatives to guardianship and restoration of rights, and the need for better data.
Reframing the Conversation on Elder Abuse
FrameWorks Institute and @NCEAaUSC created a free online video lecture series on how to effectively reframe the way we talk about elder abuse with the public. Use the code WEAAD2018 in your shopping cart until June 15, 2019 for free access.
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 November and December that confront ageism prejudices.
Countering Ageism – Old School
Old School is a recently launched clearinghouse of free and carefully vetted resources to educate people about ageism and help dismantle it. You’ll find blogs, books, articles, videos, speakers, and other tools (workshops, handouts, curricula etc.) that are accessible to the general public. Sign up for their newsletter to get the latest resources!
Building Bridges Across Generations
“Despite all the hand-wringing about the graying of America, the needs and assets of older and younger people are complementary. The key is to overcome our habits of age segregation.” A great read from the Wall Street Journal that stirs the question: “What can you do to bridge the intergenerational gap?”
“…Discrimination was generally perpetuated by stereotypes that mature workers were set in their ways, couldn’t be trained and were more prone to absenteeism…employers and workers both had a role to play to counter ageism…” An article from ABC News depicts the realities of age discrimination in the job market and tips on how to overcome it.
Christie Brinkley Talks Defying Ageism And How Ideas Of Beauty Are Evolving
“What are the longtime celebrity Christie Brinkley’s thoughts about women having an expiration date in Hollywood? According to her, ‘Ageism is the last frontier.’ In other words: it’s time to get over it.”
Refinery29 teamed up with AARP to produce a series on what women really think about the experiences that come with living, no matter the age. “…We teamed up with AARP, which spoke to 2,000 women — all from diverse backgrounds and ranging in age from 21 to 72 — about everything from changing appearance to representation in the media to how we can shift the narrative around aging…It’s time we fix our view on aging.”
Conferences, Webinars, Trainings & Events
Find upcoming events for elder justice professionals on our regularly updated online Events Calendar.
