Welcome to the NYC Elder Abuse Center’s newly-launched monthly round-up of news links & resources by & for elder justice professionals.

We’d love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected] or via Twitter at @NYCElderAbuse.

PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES

AARP Creates Online Map to Track Fraud

The AARP has created an online tool to track fraudulent schemes that target older people. Fraud Watch Network lets you click on your state and see alerts from consumers and state authorities about fraudulent activity.

How to Prevent Financial Abuse in Long-Term Care Facilities

A recording and slides from a webinar held in March are now available from the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. The webinar features Naomi Karp, Policy Advisor, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Office of Older Americans, and Ann-Maria Beard, Deputy Director, Office of Supplemental Security Income and Representative Payment Policy of the Social Security Administration.

Online Conference on Elder Abuse and Financial Fraud

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and various senior advocacy and criminal justice experts are providing a free day-long online conference on April 10, 2014 to learn how to spot the warning signs of elder abuse and financial fraud. Registration is available here.

9th Annual NYC Elder Abuse Conference

This year’s NYC Elder Abuse Conference will take place on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at the New School, 66 West 12th Street in Manhattan. The theme of the conference is Elder Abuse: Addressing the Impact of Mental Illness. The program for this year’s Conference will highlight the challenges of the intervention and resolution of elder abuse when mental illness impacts the victim and/or abuser. Additional conference details and registration information will be released in late spring.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Should Address Elder Abuse Through Laws

The New York Times’ “Sinosphere” blog features a story about how elder justice advocates in China are pushing for the addition of elders and children to legislation against domestic violence that is under consideration in the National People’s Congress.

Vermont Law Would Give Investigators Access to Medical & Financial Records in Elder Abuse Cases

The Vermont Senate is considering a proposal to provide medical and financial records access to investigators in some elder abuse cases. The bill is supported by the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, as well as aging advocates.

The Responsibilities and Limitations of Protecting At-Risk Adults

Sharon Ruyle, an Adult Protective Services manager in Colorado, writes about the duties of Adult Protective Services (APS) in responding to the abuse, exploitation and neglect of adults, especially older adults.

Sacramento Needs More Resources to Address Elder Financial Abuse

The Sacramento Bee reports that after the county dismantled a unit focused on addressing financial scams against older people, the county saw a 50% increase in reported cases.

Minnesota Urges CPAs to Help Spot Elder and Financial Abuse

The Minnesota Department of Commerce asked CPAs who are preparing taxes to be on the lookout for elder and financial abuse. In a press release that provided tips and strategies for spotting abuse and exploitation, Commissioner Mike Rothman said “As partners in the fight to stop fraud this tax season, accountants can recognize when the numbers just don’t add up, and help raise awareness of any fraud for the victims and their families.”

A Case Study of Elder Financial Abuse

Stacey Wood, PhD, Associate Professor and Clinical Neuropsychologist at Scripps College describes a case of elder abuse and points to social, cognitive and neural aspects of elder exploitation in a guest blog post for NYCEAC.

How Science Can Help Protect Elders

Bruce H. Price, M.D., the chief of neurology at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, and Ekaterina Pivovarova, Ph.D., a clinical forensic psychologist have written an article for the Huffington Post about how researchers are developing better assessment tools to identify “deficits in financial decision-making and vulnerability to undue influence.”

NYCEAC AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE NEWS

Elder Justice Advocates Testify at New York City Council Hearing

Twelve organizations, including NYCEAC, testified at a City Council hearing to advocate for an increase in funding to address elder abuse. New York City has the third-highest number of older people in the country, and the number of older adults is expected to grow nationwide.

Managing Your Elders’ Finances

NYCEAC partner Elizabeth Loewy, Chief of the Elder Abuse Unit, Special Victims/Special Prosecutions Bureau at New York County District Attorney’s Office, joins Sally Hurme of the AARP, and Naomi Karp of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) on the Diane Rehm Show to discuss the best way to manage your elders’ finances and care.

Be on the Lookout for Elder Abuse

Attorneys for the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in NYC have co-written an article in the Huffington Post about the signs of elder abuse and ways to prevent them.

RELATED STORIES

A Round-Up of Elder Justice News – February 2014
Resources for Elder Justice Professionals – February 2014