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 March to May 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
Important Marketplace segment on elder financial fraud
Why are some older adults more vulnerable to financial scams? The Marketplace Business News Special Report ‘Brains and Losses’ interviews experts, including NYCEAC’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Lachs and Phillip Marshall, Elder Justice Advocate and member of NYCEAC’s Elder Abuse Helpline’s Advisory Board.
Pop Art Sensation Peter Max becomes victim of elder abuse
“In the 60s and 70s, Peter Max was a countercultural icon, a rare painter to achieve name recognition in the mainstream…For some people, Mr. Max’s decline spelled opportunity.” Read the NY Times article to learn more.
Marvel Legend Stan Lee’s ex-manager charged with elder abuse
Stan Lee’s ex-manager Keya Morgan has been charged with elder abuse against the late Marvel icon. Mr. Morgan has been charged with multiple counts of abuse including false imprisonment and theft.
Australia creates National Elder Abuse Hotline
Australia has created a National Elder Abuse Hotline to crack down on elder abuse and will be investing $18 million over the next four years in frontline service trials to support victims. Every state and territory will have a trial site up and running by the end of June 2019. Elder abuse victims in Australia can call the hotline at 1800-ELDERHelp (1-800-353-374).
AARP launches BankSafe to help stop financial exploitation
Bank and credit union employees are financial first responders who are committed to protecting the financial well-being of their customers and communities. AARP launched a FREE training platform to empower bank and credit union employees with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to better understand and interact with older customers, identify signs of financial exploitation and take the right steps to protect the assets of older Americans. Click here to access the training program.
New financial apps aim to protect the elderly
It is no secret that financial-technology companies tend to focus on millennials rather than older adults and their adult children. However, we are starting to see a change in this trend. A small but growing crop of financial-technology companies are offering online tools meant to help adult children manage and monitor their parents’ finances and well-being. The rise of these services comes as companies are looking to cater to the changing needs of an aging population.
Research, Resources & Policy
Each Field Report, we feature a roundup of new and relevant resources, research and policy for elder justice practitioners.
Last chance to enter WEAAD Virtual Art Gallery!
The Elder Justice Roadmap helped us prioritize how to address and prevent elder abuse. Now we would like to celebrate and build on all of its accomplishments in our WEAAD Virtual Art Gallery. We invite you to create and submit art that provides an artistic representation of the aging process with one or all of the following themes: equality and justice, respect, empowerment, connections, engagement, community, healing, hope and happiness. All entries will be displayed in a virtual gallery with links to National websites and will receive National recognition as determined appropriate. Submission deadline is June 1, 2019!
Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship
The National Center for State Courts has launched an online training to support someone who needs help making decisions and managing life. This engaging, interactive course has something for both professionals and caregivers. The course explains legal concepts easily and includes three tracks: supporting decisions, using legal options to support or substitute decision-making, and serving as a guardian.
Tax tips for older adults to prevent financial exploitation
As the 2018 tax season begins to draw to a close, older adults should be wary of two tax time products offered by tax return preparers and lenders that could drain their hard-earned tax refunds: Refund Anticipation Checks (RAC) and Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs). This resource explains some of the risks behind these two tax products and offers information about other options for older adults who may have trouble paying their tax debt.
The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice’s Elder Abuse Shelter Monograph
This publication is a milestone for the burgeoning elder abuseshelter movement. Over the years, theWeinberg Center for Elder Justice has worked around the country to help professionals adapt theirelder abuse shelter model to the unique needs and resources of their communities. This important monograph describes what these visionary colleagues already know: an elder abuseshelteris a vital component of any robust coordinated community response or multidisciplinary team.
Elder Justice Policy Highlights
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) and Ageless Alliance released their Elder Justice Policy Highlights report. It is a compilation of information about nationwide public policy efforts concerning older adults and elder abuse. The resource reflects activity in 13 states and highlights at the federal level.
Reframing the conversation on elder abuse–
FrameWorks Institute and @NCEAaUSC created an 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.
The Support and Tools for Elder Abuse Prevention (STEAP) Initiative was launched by the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), in partnership with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), in an effort to educate and empower communities to create a sturdy structure of support to notice, report, and prevent abuse. The centerpiece of this Initiative is a toolkit with practical and customizable elder abuse education and outreach resources.
ACL is accepting written comments through a Request for Information link on their Public Input page. Comments on all parts of the original and revised Guidelines are welcome.Feedback must be submitted by May 31st, 2019.
ACL releases new funding opportunity to enhance APS
ACL released a new funding opportunity announcement for Grants to Enhance State APS Systems (HHS-2019-ACL-AOA-EJSG-0350) This includes innovations and improvements in practice, services, and data collection and reporting, as well as states’ technical ability to interface with ACL’s National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS). Application Due Date – June 24, 2019
OVC releases new funding opportunity for improving technology for victims
The Office of Victims of Crime is seeking applications for OVC Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Building State Technology Capacity and Elder Abuse Hotlines.Interested organizations may join a pre-application webinar on June 11, 2019 at 3pm eastern time. Register for the webinar here. Grant applications are due July 8, 2019.
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 that confront ageism prejudices.
“We need to be mindful of age discrimination and remember what we can learn from the women who have been fighting to secure our rights for generations. Let’s collectively reject ageism. This “cult” is an unhealthy scourge that suppresses the wealth of talent that older (people) women possess” A reminder that sharing knowledge and taking the step to connect with others outside of your age bracket is way to counter ageism in your community.
Ageism: A ‘Prevalent and Insidious’ Health Threat
“The message is loud and clear,” Dr. Karl Pillemer said. “Ageist attitudes don’t seem as baked in as we think. They may be relatively malleable.” A great article that dives into the seriousness of ageism and the research that shows us how to counter it.
Growing Old Is Something We’re All Doing. So Why is Ageism so Prevalent?”
Aging is not just something annoying that old people and parents do. We are all doing it from the day we are born.” A great read that gets to the heart of ageism and why it’s so prevalent.
Conferences, Webinars, Trainings & Events
Find upcoming events for elder justice professionals on our regularly updated online Events Calendar.
– By NYCEAC’s Elder Justice Dispatch Team
