Welcome to the NYC Elder Abuse Center’s (NYCEAC) 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 September and October 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
The elder justice news stories below were covered on mainstream press and shared widely through social media.
newyorktimes.com
New Rule Just Made It a Lot Less Difficult to Sue Some Nursing Homes
An agency with the Health and Human Services Department issued a rule that bars any nursing home that receives federal funding from requiring that its residents resolve any disputes in arbitration, instead of court. According to the New York Times, many facilities require arbitration agreements which have “stymied the families of nursing home residents from getting justice, even in the case of murder.”
theguardian.com
Anti-LGBT Bias in Retirement Homes
LGBTQ older adults living in retirement homes face unique struggles, including an increased risk for abuse. “Advocates report that those in similar situations are often pressured into silence or forced back into the closet, and that abuse is especially severe against transgender and gender non-conforming residents.”
pndblog.typepad.com
Elder Justice Philanthropy Enters a New Age
Phillip C. Marshall, elder justice advocate, writes about his journey to understand “that elder abuse is a systemic problem that demands systems-based solutions.” In this lengthy op-ed, Mr. Marshall explains why he feels strongly about this issue. “To advance elder justice, it is urgent we work together to assess needs and opportunities, using a systems-based approach informed by emerging analytics to harness the engagement and investment of all sectors.”
Fraud Affects Millions of Older Adults Every Day
As a result of the growing numbers of vulnerable older adults, there is more opportunity for fraud and exploitation. This piece in the Athens Review details the top scams targeting older adults, how to detect fraud, and how to report suspected crimes.
Bergen County Nursing Home Offers Free Room to Abused Seniors in Need
Senior Haven in Bergen County, New Jersey has opened its doors to older adults in need. Senior Haven provides a four-month free stay for older adults who are victims of abuse.
nytimes.com
In Bid to Build Trust, New York City Adds Victims’ Allies in All Precincts
Safe Horizon, the Nation’s Leading Victim Assistance Organization, will now have advocates in police precincts citywide in New York. These advocates will be available to provide assistance to crime victims, including elder abuse victims. Advocates are trained to be sensitive to victims’ specialized needs.
Research, Resources & Policy
Each Field Report, we feature a roundup of new and relevant resources, research and policy for elder justice practitioners.
justice.gov
The Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative Launches YouTube Channel
The DOJ’s Elder Justice Initiative launched a YouTube channel featuring resources pertaining to elder abuse and elder justice. In this video, NYCEAC’s Risa Breckman discusses law enforcement strategies when interviewing elder abuse victims at 5:25.
Administration for Community Living Announces Voluntary Guidelines, Funding to Boost State Adult Protective Services ACL recently awarded $2.2 million in grants to 13 states to enhance statewide Adult Protection Services (APS) systems, improve practices and data collection, and interface with the Administration for Community Living’s National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System. The funding doubles the number of states receiving APS enhancement grants since ACL awarded the first-ever federal grants for state APS systems last year.
National Academy of Sciences Families Releases Report on Caring for an Aging America
The prestigious National Academy of Sciences released a report on the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults as well as its personal impact on caregivers’ health, economic security, and overall well-being. Included in the report is a section on “Elder Mistreatment and Neglect” which details prevalence of abuse, types of abuse, and a recommendation for further research.
NYC Elder Abuse Center, along with the Lifespan of Greater Rochester, designed, piloted, and conducted a survey to assess the current adequacy of elder abuse victim prevention and intervention services in New York State. Notable findings include the need for elder abuse public awareness and mental health services for victims, and that there are numerous obstacles to receiving crime victim compensation.
Violence Against Women Who Are Older
The latest newsletter from the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children in Ontario focuses on abuse against older women. The newsletter includes information on common types of abuse, how to detect abuse, barriers to seeking help, and how to help when you suspect an older woman has been abused.
Elder Abuse Under-Identified in U.S. Emergency Departments
One in 7,700 emergency room visits are diagnosed as elder abuse, according to a new study. In a new study published this week in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, a team of researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of California San Diego, and Weill Cornell Medicine used a nationally-representative data set to estimate the frequency with which emergency providers make a formal diagnosis of elder abuse.
National Center on Elder Abuse Elder Abuse Screening Tools for Healthcare Professionals
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 September and October that confront ageism prejudices.
World Health Organization International Day of Older Persons
October 1st was the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Day of Older Persons. The 2016 theme for the day was Take a Stand Against Ageism. This year, the WHO sought to encourage the consideration of ageism “the negative attitudes and discrimination based on age – and the detrimental impact it has on older people.”
newyorktmes.com
You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch
In 2016, almost 20 percent of Americans 65 and older are working. This New York Times op-ed highlights spotlights older Americans face in the workplace. A disproportionate percentage of people over 50 who are looking for work and unemployed due to ageist stereotypes studies demonstrate to be unfounded.
An Unfair Hollywood Demeans Older People, New Research Finds
Older Americans are underrepresented and negatively stereotyped in film, according to a study conducted by Humana and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. This Huffington Post piece describes how the current depiction of older adults in film is both the result of and a contributing factor to ageism.
Older People Offer Resources That Children Need
A new Stanford University study counters ageism by demonstrating that intergenerational interactions benefit both young and old. “When older adults contribute to the well-being of youth, it cultivates a sense of purpose and extends benefits both ways.”
Elder Justice Champion
Elder Justice 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. In this issue of the Field Guide, we feature Phillip C. Marshall for his dedication to elder justice.
facebook.com/beyondbrookepage
Phillip C. Marshall is a tireless advocate for elder justice, using his influence to be a voice for victims of elder abuse throughout the country, and we are proud to honor him this issue. He is the grandson of New York philanthropist Brooke Astor. Brooke Astor was the victim of elder abuse by Anthony Marshall, her son and Philip C. Marshall’s father. Phillip’s interventions helped protect his grandmother. His father was later successfully prosecuted. Learn more about Phillip C. Marshall’s work at beyondbrooke.org.
Conferences, Trainings & Events
Find upcoming events for elder justice professionals on our regularly updated online Events Calendar.
