PROTECTING ELDERS FROM ABUSE
Elder abuse has long remained in the shadows of social justice and human rights issues. But it’s a problem that afflicts millions of people every year. And given the aging population and caregiving shortages, it’s on the rise. In response, Appleseed has launched Life Long Justice, an initiative dedicated to strategic efforts to advance justice and rights for elders.
Click here for a brief overview of the problem, responses, and some next steps. For more information, please contact Marie-Therese Connolly, director of Appleseed's Life Long Justice program, at mtconnolly@appleseednetwork.org.
OTHER PRIORITIES
One of the Life Long Justice project’s first initiatives is to work with a pro bono partner to map the elder justice legislative terrain, identifying (1) federal laws with a nexus to elder justice;  (2) whether funds have been appropriated (or otherwise allocated) to implement those laws; and (3) how (if at all) those laws have been implemented.  The legislative map will advance justice for elders by helping advocates to make more strategic and well-informed decisions in targeting their efforts to prevent and address elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Among other things, the map will serve as a critical resource in identifying the laws, resources, and programs we need to work for, assure that advocacy is informed by substance, distill priorities, and help to coalesce the field.    Additional priorities include to: Convene experts to review the legislative map and identify priorities going forward.   Identify potential legal and advocacy avenues to address reports of racial disparities in nursing homes (based on studies showing that African Americans disproportionately reside in the worst facilities). Identify potential legal and advocacy avenues to address reports that older victims and people with disabilities often are not served by publicly-funded domestic violence and sexual assault programs.     Identify potential legal and advocacy avenues to address guardianship abuses that wrongfully deprive elders of liberty and property, including when they are: (1) imposed without due process, (2) based on inaccurate medical data, (3) influenced by parties with conflicts of interest or intent to exploit, or (4) continue indefinitely without meaningful monitoring, oversight, review, appeal or representation. Identify ways to assist inter and multidisciplinary teams that are less effective than they could be because of variability in how laws that govern them are written and interpreted.  Develop policy and potentially model law recommendations to address issues relating to incapacitated “unbefriended” elders (who can not make decisions on their own behalf and have no identified decision-maker) whose care and wellbeing is undermined because of unclear or nonexistent laws and guidelines about decision-making regarding their treatment.  (Georgia Appleseed and its partners are taking the lead on this project with support of National Appleseed’s Life Long Justice project.)
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DOING ELDER JUSTICE AND ELDER RIGHTS WORK
·        AARP ·        ABA Commission on Law and Aging ·        Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse, University of California, Irvine (UCI) ·        Center for Medicare Rights ·        Elder Justice Coalition (EJC) ·        National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) ·        National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) ·        National Center for State Courts (NCSC) ·        National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) ·        National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) ·        National Council on Aging (NCOA) ·        National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) ·        National Senior Citizen’s Law Center ·        NCCNHR:  The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care ·        New York City Elder Abuse Center ·        Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute (TEAM)
One of Appleseed's first initiatives under Life Long Justice will be to map the relevant legislative terrain and ensure that the interests of abused elders and those who advocate on their behalf are addressed in existing bills. Our other priorities include the following:
♦ Addressing problems in guardianship and capacity
♦ Determining guardianship fairly
♦ Developing best practices for advocacy
♦ Crafting model legislation
♦ Addressing racial disparities in elder care
♦ Drawing attention to domesitc violence against the elderly
♦ Protecting the elderly from financial abuse
Some of Appleseed's key partners and advisors in this effort include experts affiliated with the following organizations:
♦ National Adult Protective Services Association
♦ National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
♦ National Clearinghouse for Abuse in Later Life
♦ Program in Geriatrics, University of California at Irvine
♦ Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect, UC Irvine
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
Part of Appleseed's strategy for ending elder abuse and neglect is legislative, and we will soon begin reviewing relevant legislation to ensure that the interests of abused elders and their advocates are addressed therein. Appleseed seeks to assure the enactment or reauthorization and adequate funding of three laws to the extent that they relate to elder justice issues.
1. The Elder Justice Act, currently part of health care reform
2. The Violence Against Women Act, being reauthorized in 2010
3. The Older Americans Act, scheduled to be reauthorized in 2011