Welcome to the NYC Elder Abuse Center’s (NYCEAC) November 2015 roundup of the latest in elder justice news & resources. We’ve selected and analyzed the most helpful articles and resources relevant to elder justice professionals. 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.
NEWS
In the Media
Dr. Mark Lachs
Photo credit: A. Kinloch
Elder Abuse Research Review
Dr. Mark Lachs, NYCEAC’s Medical Director, and Karl Pillemer, PhD, NYCEAC’s partner with the Risk and Resiliency Internship Project, have published an important piece in The New England Journal of Medicine summarizing the recent research and clinical evidence on the management of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. This review was also reported on by NPR and in discussed in a recent Long Term Living article.
Financial Abuse of the Elderly: Sometimes Unnoticed, Always Predatory
The New York Times examines financial abuse of older adults and reports that, “an estimated five million older American residents annually who are victimized to some extent by a caregiver, friend, family member, lawyer or financial adviser.”
Coming Full Circle to Help Her Elders
In a recent piece published in The New York Times, Joy Solomon, the Director and Managing Attorney of the Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, shares her personal journey as a prosecutor creating a safe place for victims of elder abuse, helping them to find shelter and healing.
Education Is the Best Tool to Fight Elder Fraud
Consumer Reports describes the common trick scammers use of calling older adults demanding payment to the IRS or another agency at the risk of further fines. This story describes what happens when a scammer makes a huge mistake by calling Anna Guillory Yates of the Stop Senior Scams Acting Program. Read more and find out how you can protect yourself and loved ones.
Specialty Drugs Now Cost More Than the Median Household Income
The Washington Post reports on a new study by AARP Public Policy Institute, highlighting the impact of drug prices on seniors. “A year’s worth of prescriptions for a single drug retailed at $53,384 per year, on average.” These staggering prices have a real impact on older adults who have a greater need for specialized medication and are often living on a restricted budget. Not having access to medications has an obvious health impact and striving to pay these staggering prices can cause poverty, a known risk factor for abuse and medical neglect. Read more here.
Las Vegas District Attorney Creates New Elder Abuse Unit
The Las Vegas District Attorney will create a new elder abuse unit to prosecute crimes against vulnerable older adults at risk for exploitation. “We are pleased that District Attorney Wolfson has recognized the need for specially trained prosecutors, who can ensure that those who abuse and exploit our senior population are brought to justice,” Sugar Vogel, Executive Director of the Southern Nevada Senior Law Program, said. Read more here.
Why Seniors Don’t Fear Elder Financial Abuse
A new study finds that only 11 percent of the older adults worry about being victimized by financial abuse. This is despite the fact that in another study in American Journal of Public Health found that roughly 1 in 20 older adults are currently experiencing financial abuse by a family member. Ready more about this discrepancy.
Elder Financial Exploitation Hits Close
According to an Oregon study, older adults need to be more cautious when trusting family members to manage their finances. This study finds almost three quarters of financial-exploitation cases involved someone known or trusted by the victim. Read more.
Time for Congress to Act on Elder Abuse
Two senators have introduced legislation to encourage financial advisers and financial institutions to report suspected financial abuse of elder. The Senior$afe Act of 2015 seeks to protect that nation’s 40 million seniors, many of who lose of estimated $2.9 billion a year. Read more.
Why Are We Abusing Our Parents? The Ugly Facts of Family Violence and Ageism
The Conversation reports that 92% of elder abuse occurs within the family and how such abuse “perniciously erode[s] their sense of safety and wellbeing through excessive use of power and control.”
Americans Are Not Saving Enough For Their Retirement
The Economist reports, the Centre for Retirement “estimates that 52% of Americans may not be able to maintain their standard of living.” Older adults are already a vulnerable population, and economic instability only makes them more so. Further, older adults living in poverty have an increased risk of elder abuse.
For Women, Income Inequality Continues Into Retirement
NPR’s Morning Edition explores the story of 87-year-old Lydia Smith as an example of the growing prevalence of poverty among older women. Listen to the story here.
FTC Amends Telemarketing Rule to Ban Payment Methods Used By Scammers
The Federal Trade Commission has approved final amendments to its Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), including a change that will help protect consumers from fraud by prohibiting four discrete types of payment methods favored by scammers.
Fidelity Launches Program to Help Advisors Protect Aging Clients from Financial Abuse
The new program designed to help firms manage the financial issues associated with aging clients. The offering includes a collaboration with EverSafe, a technology firm that provides a daily monitoring service that scans financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity and identity theft. Through this collaboration, firms who work with Fidelity will have access to a discounted rate. The program also includes insights and education from Fidelity to help support advisors and help them protect their clients as they age. Learn more here.
Mexican Consulate Joins Orange County Family Justice Center to Expand Services
Orange County Family Justice Center has inaugurated a new on-site help desk run by the Mexican Consulate and offers assistance to victims of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse and sexual assault through a variety of services, including prevention classes and help navigating legal aid and the welfare program CalWORKS — all free of charge. Learn more about this partnership.
Casey Kasem
Photo from Portland Press Herald
Casey Kasem’s Kids and Brother Suing Widow, Alleging ElderAabuse
According to the Portland Herald Press, Three of Casey Kasem’s children and his brother are suing the late radio host’s widow, accusing her of neglecting his medical care and hastening his death in 2014. Kasem’s wife, Jean, had her husband buried in Norway in an unmarked grave, according to the lawsuit. No autopsy was performed.
RESOURCES
Reports, Videos & More
Multiple Approaches to Understanding and Preventing Elder Abuse and Mistreatment
Watch a videocast of the National Institutes of Health’s workshop on elder abuse. Dr. Burnight, CEO of Ageless Alliance was a presenter. This workshop offers a great inside look at the obstacles and complexities of preventing elder abuse and also promising practices for intervention and prevention.
Pension Poaching: The Latest Threat to Veterans’ Financial Security
Learn what pension scams are and how they work in this brief, yet comprehensive blog post by Consumers Union chock full of advice and examples.
The Community Research Center for Senior Health Evidence-Based Toolkit
The Evidence to Programs Toolkit contains materials that build the capacity of community organizations to promote senior health and well-being through evidence-based programming.
Conferences, Trainings & Events
Funding Available for Elder Abuse Victim Assistance Webinar, December 1
In 2014 Congress lifted the cap on the Victim of Crime Act in 2014 Congress lifted the cap on the Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) funding from $745 million to $2.361 billion. VOCA funds direct victim services and compensation. Since 2002, the Office on Violence Against Women’s Abuse in Later Life Program has funded communities to provide training for professionals on elder abuse; to create a coordinated community response and to enhance direct victim services for older adults.
Join this webinar on December 1st, to hear more about how you can apply for funding from these two federal programs to support victim services for older adults in your community.
CDAA 4th Annual National Elder & Dependent Adult Abuse Symposium, December 1-4
This 3 1/2-day seminar in Garden Grove, California is designed for prosecutors, 
investigators, law enforcement, adult protective services administrators and case workers, state and local agency personnel, medical professionals, coroners and medical examiners, and victim advocates. The symposium will provide information on how to identify, investigate, and prosecute cases involving elder and dependent adult abuse. While serving as an introduction to those new in the field, this symposium will also address the latest issues and techniques in elder abuse prosecution. Register here.
#NCEAnow Twitter Chat, December 17
Every third Thursday of the month, the National Center on Elder Abuse hosts a Twitter Chat to encourage discussion about elder abuse and elder justice topics. The hashtag used for this monthly chat is #NCEAnow. All Twitter users are welcome to join the chat by going to www.tweetchat.com and searching the hashtag #NCEAnow to follow along and participate. Follow the NCEA on Twitter (@NCEAatUSC) for updates.
Disabilities in Aging Webinar, December 3
This three-part webinar symposium builds and expands upon the 2015 Aging in America Conference general session entitled “Disabilities in Aging: A Future Redesigned” with the intention of reaching professionals from fifteen distinct disciplines who serve the aging population. Sign up for the webinar here.
Annual Aging in America Conference, March 20-24
The American Society on Aging will host it’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. on Aging in America from March 20-24. Registration opens October 1st. Register for this multifaceted and multidisciplinary conference before October 31 for special rates.
Flexible, Convenient and Invaluable Training in Health, Chronic Conditions – Factors That Contribute to Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation.
ASA and USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology are offering a new five-week online certificate course – Health and Wellness in an Aging Society. The courses are taught by the nation’s leading experts in aging, including Drs. Kate Wilbur and Donna Benton, as well as other specialists in healthcare, chronic disease management, dementia/mental health, caregiving, and medication management – covering many underlying factors that contribute to increased vulnerability to elder abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Information, research, best practices and effective models are offered that are readily applicable to the work you are already doing! Learn more and enroll online for the January 25, 2016 session!
And, back by popular demand, Fundamentals of Gerontology five-week online certificate course. Learn more and enroll online.
Employment Opportunities
Social Worker Clinical Case Assistant – NYC Elder Abuse Center
We’re hiring! The New York City Elder Abuse Center (NYCEAC) is seeking to hire a full-time Clinical Case Assistant to help respond to cases of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Learn more here.
Social Worker – JASA’s Brooklyn Legal and Elder Abuse Program
Opportunity to serve as a Social Worker I at our Brooklyn Legal and Elder Abuse Program (LEAP) with JASA, metropolitan New York’s largest not-for-profit organization serving the aging population. Learn more here.
Community Services Social Worker – DOROT
Founded in 1976, DOROT is one of New York City’s leading social service agencies serving the elderly. Established to affirm the Jewish communal commitment to honor older members of the community, the agency serves the wider community as well. Learn more here.
Program Director – Cooperative Elder Services, Inc.
Cooperative Elder Services, a leading adult day health agency, is hiring an experienced Program Director for their Burlington, Massachusetts location. Learn more here.
Chief Financial Officer – Central Boston Elder Services
Central Boston Elder Services, a non-profit corporation, helps Boston area seniors remain in their homes by providing short and long-term care. Learn more here.
Director of Outreach & Community Relations – Somerville Cambridge Elder Services
Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to assessing, addressing and advocating for the needs of people 60 and older in the cities of Somerville and Cambridge. Learn more here.
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