Training Resources Related to Elder Abuse

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Conversations on Caregiving, Ethics, and Elder Mistreatment

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2024

Summary:

Caregiving for a family member, chosen family, partner, or friend, can be very rewarding and meaningful. It can also be challenging. As a loved one’s needs increase and caregiving duties expand over time, unexpected physical, emotional, and/or financial hardships may arise. Within this context, critical ethical questions may surface on topics including healthcare and financial decision-making; self-determination, safety, and autonomy; the changing nature of family relationships; and the link between caregiving and abuse.

Slides

Youtube

Link: Conversations on Caregiving, Ethics, and Elder Mistreatment

Topics: Caregiving

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Caregivers, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement

A Mother Never Gives Up Hope: Older Mothers and Abusive Adult Sons

Source: Terra Nova Films

Published: 2009

Summary:

This DVD shares the candid and powerful stories of Ruth, Lova, Anne and Rita–four women who are dealing with abuse at the hands of an adult son. In their own words, they work through the emotions and pain of experiencing abuse from their sons, the life-changing impact it makes on them as a person and how it affects their mother-son relationships. The video also gives a “two year progression” window in which the women look back on how they have adapted or changed as a result of the abuse–one takes back her own personal power, another feels “re-victimized” by the system for not being able to maintain a relationship with her son. Both emotional and empowering, the stories provide firsthand insight on how advocates can better assist other survivors of this under-reported form of elder abuse.

Link: A Mother Never Gives Up Hope: Older Mothers and Abusive Adult Sons

Topics: Domestic Violence in Later Life, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Public Awareness

Access: Order (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Community, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

“He Wouldn’t Turn Me Loose”: The Sexual Assault Case of 96-Year-Old Miss Mary

Source: Terra Nova Films

Published: 2012

Summary:

This DVD presents the real-life case of 96-year-old Miss Mary, who was financially exploited and later, sexually assaulted by her grandson. Miss Mary had been living with her grandson and his wife for five years during which financial abuse took place. Then, one evening, when his wife was out, the grandson sexually abused Miss Mary for several hours, leaving her bruised from head to toe. After the attack and hospitalization, Miss Mary was placed in a nursing home under the name “Jane Doe” for safety reasons. Miss Mary’s family refused to believe her and refused to support her; her primary social interactions were with staff and residents of the nursing home, and the advocates she met after the assault. However, Miss Mary retained her strength of character, and fully participated in the subsequent trial and prosecution of her grandson.

Link: “He Wouldn’t Turn Me Loose”: The Sexual Assault Case of 96-Year-Old Miss Mary

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Prevention/Intervention, Sexual Abuse

Access: Order (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Community, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Aging with a History of Trauma: Strategies to Provide Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care to Older Adults and Family Caregivers

Source: Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care at the Jewish Federations of North America

Published: 2023

Summary:

Exposure to traumatic events is widespread. Research suggests that almost 90% of American older adults have been exposed to at least one traumatic event during their lifetime. This trauma affects adults as they age as well as those who provide for their care. To provide care for the growing population of older adults in the United States, it is essential to understand the role of trauma in aging and how person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) care can help. ‘Aging with a History of Trauma’ is a guide for anyone working and volunteering in aging services on how to deliver PCTI care to older adults with a history of trauma and family caregivers.  In this guide, you will find information about the role of trauma in aging, the PCTI approach, and recommendations on supporting diverse older adults and family caregivers.

Link: Aging with a History of Trauma: Strategies to Provide Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care to Older Adults and Family Caregivers

Topics: Caregiving, Diversity/Cultural Competency, Long-term Care, Overview/General, Preparedness and Response, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers

The Prosecutors’ Resource on Elder Abuse

Source: AEquitas

Published: 2018

Summary:

This Prosecutors’ Resource is designed to assist with investigating and prosecuting cases involving abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of an older victim. Due to the prevalence of elder abuse committed by individuals known to the victim who are often in a position or relationship of trust, this Resource will focus on cases involving non-stranger perpetrators. Additionally, this Resource will briefly address abuse committed in facility settings but will focus primarily on abuse committed within the community where older adults reside and abuse most often occurs. Much of the information, however, is applicable to cases no matter the setting.

Link: The Prosecutors’ Resource on Elder Abuse

Topics: Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Financial Abuse, Legal, Preparedness and Response, Prevention/Intervention, Sexual Abuse

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Money Smart for Older Adults

Source: CFPB & FDIC

Published: 2023

Summary:

The Money Smart for Older Adults program can help older adults, family caregivers, and others prevent, recognize, and report scams, fraud, and financial exploitation. Money Smart for Older Adults was developed jointly by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Link: Money Smart for Older Adults

Topics: Caregiving, Financial Abuse

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Finance, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

White Paper-Summit Summary Victim Impact, Financial Fraud Prevention and Legal Rights

Source: Juanita C. Grant Foundation Inc.

Published: 2024

Summary:

On May 15th, 2024, the Juanita C. Grant Foundation and the United States Attorney’s Office District of Baltimore co-convened the first state-wide summit in Maryland on elder abuse prevention and intervention, titled “Victim Impact, Financial Fraud Prevention and Legal Rights: The Intersection of Elder Abuse, Traumatic Impact of Scams, and Residual Health Repercussions.” This full day, highly interactive summit challenged participants to form new networks to develop innovative targeted and intentional interventions to interrupt and dismantle elder abuse. The summit presented a rare opportunity for new collaborations, bringing together 116 attendees from over 8 Maryland Counties. Attendees included a cross section of federal and state prosecutors, healthcare providers and elder abuse prevention trainers. Other participants were representatives of national and local nonprofits, diverse communities, adult protective services, social workers, educators and advocates. The sequence of events included sufficient time for participants to exchange contact information and begin germinating ideas to rethink current practices in deterring elder abuse and developing multi-agency collaborations and community engagement.

Link: White Paper-Summit Summary Victim Impact, Financial Fraud Prevention and Legal Rights

Topics: Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Financial Abuse, Neglect

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Dementia Friendly Training for First Responders

Source: Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging

Published: 2024

Summary:

The Dementia Friendly First Responder Training Program helps law enforcement and other first responders create a dementia-friendly culture that embraces, supports, and properly responds to residents with dementia and their caregivers. This training will teach you how to become Dementia knowledgeable, Dementia Sensitive, and Dementia Responsive. Upon completion of this online training program, you will receive 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and a printable certificate of completion for your records. A short pre and post test is required to measure your knowledge before receiving the training, and upon completion of your training. The Dementia Friendly First Responder Training program is also available as an onsite training event. Contact your local area agency on aging to schedule a training event on site at your local department.

Link: Dementia Friendly Training for First Responders

Topics: Cognition/Capacity

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

National Virtual Symposium: Person-Centered Approaches in Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2024

Summary:

Join a virtual discussion on the national movement to advance person-centered approaches in elder abuse MDTs.

Resources:

8.13.24 Symposium Slides

Link: National Virtual Symposium: Person-Centered Approaches in Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement

Fireside Chat on Elder Justice Policy 2024

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2024

Summary:

Join Bob Blancato, National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition, and Kathy Greenlee, Senior Director of Elder Justice at ADvancing States and former U.S. Assistant Secretary on Aging, for a moderated “fireside chat.” They will discuss the current status of elder justice policy and what they see coming in the near future at the federal level. Explore a wide range of topics, including the first-ever federal regulations for adult protective services, updates on the Elder Justice Act reauthorization, and more.

Resources:

Administration for Community Living – Final Rule: Federal Regulations for APS Programs​

​Center for Healthcare Strategies – Multisector Plan for Aging Learning Collaborative ​

Link: Fireside Chat on Elder Justice Policy 2024

Topics: Public Awareness

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Public Policy

Addressing Concerns About Retaliation

Source: Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC)

Published: 2024

Summary:

Retaliation, and the fear of retaliation, can prevent residents and family members from raising their concerns about care and safety. It also has a chilling effect on the reporting of abuse or neglect in long-term care facilities, leaving many living in fear and without relief from harm. Retaliation can range from very subtle to obvious actions and it may be difficult to determine whether staff are retaliating or if a resident’s needs are not being met for another reason, such as understaffing. Retaliation is never acceptable; it is a violation of the resident’s rights.

In a new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast, join us for a conversation with an Ombudsman, a long-term care resident, and a gerontologist as we discuss how to identify retaliation, action steps to take when it does occur, and how to advocate to prevent retaliation from happening in the future.
Special Guests:
Tasha Erskine-Jackson, Regional Ombudsman, Connecticut Aging and Disability Services
Jeanette Martinez, Connecticut Long-Term Care Resident
Eilon Caspi, Gerontologist and Dementia Behavior Specialist

Listen Here: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and YouTube
Watch the Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXLqiN_nP9w
Additional Resource: https://theconsumervoice.org/uploads/files/long-term-care-recipient/CV_Retaliation_Handout_web.pdf

Link: Addressing Concerns About Retaliation

Topics: Long-term Care, Neglect

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Social Services

The Value of Participating on Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams

Source: Elder Justice Initiative (EJI)

Published: 2024

Summary:

Elder abuse multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are expanding across the country and yet not all communities are familiar with them. This session begins with a brief introduction to multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), followed by a presentation on the nature and functioning of tribal protection teams and jurisdictional challenges. Attendees then will learn from an experienced team about the value of participating on an MDT. A live demonstration will be provided by the Montgomery County Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team showing how MDTs function and the benefit to law enforcement investigations.

Link: The Value of Participating on Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Elder Financial Exploitation and the Criminal Justice System

Source: Elder Justice Initiative (EJI)

Published: 2024

Summary:

Financial exploitation, as well as other forms of abuse, increases the risk of premature death in older adults by 300%. Across the country, reports of elder financial exploitation are increasing dramatically. The need for law enforcement to identify and effectively respond to these cases is becoming increasingly urgent. Through case examples, attendees will learn about ways in which elder financial exploitation is perpetrated, its impact on victims and their families, the barriers law enforcement and prosecutors face in investigating and prosecuting it, and innovative and effective ideas for overcoming these barriers and bringing justice to these deserving victims.

Link: Elder Financial Exploitation and the Criminal Justice System

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement and Elder Abuse Investigations

Source: Elder Justice Initiative (EJI)

Published: 2024

Summary:

Law enforcement is often the first to respond to a report of elder abuse. Yet many things are unique about responding to an elder abuse situation, from interviewing older adults to collecting evidence to figuring out if there might be a memory problem. In this session attendees will learn the essentials of elder abuse and will be introduced to a practical web-based tool (Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement, (EAGLE)) through a live demonstration. Using a case-based approach we will apply this new knowledge and examine law enforcement’s place in the larger context of other elder justice professionals. Emphasis will be placed on partnerships and collaborations that can make law enforcement investigations more productive.

Link: Law Enforcement and Elder Abuse Investigations

Topics: Legal, Multidisciplinary Teams, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Financial Exploitation and Family Dynamics

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER)

Published: 2024

Summary:

Recent reports estimate that more than $20 billion is lost from older adults each year due to financial exploitation by family, friends, and caregivers. Because of the significant costs and emotional impact associated with such exploitation, it is important to work with older adults to identify their preferred options and remedies to recover from abuse.

This training will discuss the options that can be used to address financial exploitation by family members, including mediation, restorative justice, and other solutions to remedy the situation and preserve the relationship with family. The training will also provide information on the importance of advanced planning and how to work with banks and financial institutions to prevent financial exploitation by family members and preserve autonomy.

Link: Financial Exploitation and Family Dynamics

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Finance, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

NAPSA’s Introduction to APS – A Guide for Community Partners

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2022

Summary:

Provides an introduction to APS focused specifically educating community partners, with sections on defining abuse, neglect, self-neglect, isolation, financial exploitation, abandonment, sexual abuse, polyvictimization, and mandatory reporting.

Link: NAPSA’s Introduction to APS – A Guide for Community Partners

Topics: Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Financial Abuse, Mandatory Reporting, Neglect, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Self-neglect, Sexual Abuse

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

The Elder Mistreatment Emergency Department Toolkit

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2023

Summary:

Elder mistreatment affects 1 in 10 older adults, but only 1 in 1000 older adults presenting in the emergency department are diagnosed with elder mistreatment. This toolkit contains resources that will address that imbalance by assessing staff knowledge and practice, training staff to use simple tools to screen older adults for elder mistreatment and respond to suspected cases, and forging connections with community partners.

Link: The Elder Mistreatment Emergency Department Toolkit

Topics: Caregiving, Mandatory Reporting, Preparedness and Response, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

RISE: A Community-Based Elder Abuse and Self-Neglect Response Intervention Addressing a Critical System Service Gap

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2023

Summary:

RISE is a community-based intervention designed to support older adults at risk of or experiencing elder abuse or self-neglect (EASN) by integrating methods like motivational interviewing and restorative justice. It addresses EASN at multiple levels, involving victims and their social supports. Evaluation shows high feasibility and acceptability, with 94% of referred cases accepting services and significant reductions in re-referral rates to APS. Clients report improvements in stress, worry, quality of life, self-efficacy, and safety knowledge. APS caseworkers find RISE complements their work by addressing long-term needs and involving perpetrators and family members, thus reducing case recurrence.

Link: RISE: A Community-Based Elder Abuse and Self-Neglect Response Intervention Addressing a Critical System Service Gap

Topics: Caregiving, Neglect, Preparedness and Response, Self-neglect

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Community

Measuring Outcomes of APS-Geriatrics Collaboration Using Virtual Capacity Evaluations

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2023

Summary:

A study by Ronan Factora MD explored the effectiveness of virtual capacity evaluations in collaboration between Geriatricians at the Cleveland Clinic and Cuyahoga County Adult Protective Services (APS) from May 2020 to September 2021. Data from 54 individuals assessed included cognitive function, medication review, and identification of abuse types. Results showed that neglect and self-neglect were the most common abuse allegations, with a significant number of evaluations resulting in the assignment of guardians or conservators. The study highlighted the importance of reconnecting APS clients to routine medical care, which improved health outcomes and reduced social isolation. Virtual evaluations were found feasible and beneficial in maintaining individuals’ independence. The study suggested further research into the long-term impact, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of such collaborations, and emphasized the need for ongoing support and resources for sustainable implementation.

Link: Measuring Outcomes of APS-Geriatrics Collaboration Using Virtual Capacity Evaluations

Topics: Caregiving, Guardianship/Conservatorship, Neglect, Self-neglect

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Finance, Public Policy, Social Services

Findings from an Innovative Prevention Intervention for Self-Neglect in Primary Care

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2024

Summary:

Researchers tested a new method to prevent self-neglect in older adults receiving primary healthcare. They studied 477 patients, dividing them into two groups. One group got regular care, while the other received home visits from social workers who checked for self-neglect or abuse and provided care plans and case management. Over a year, 32 patients were reported to Adult Protective Services, mostly for reasons other than self-neglect. The intervention group had fewer increases in depression, especially among those with severe impairments. They received services like food assistance and home modifications, with a total of 1,126 services provided.

Link: Findings from an Innovative Prevention Intervention for Self-Neglect in Primary Care

Topics: Caregiving, Self-neglect

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Health Care

Gender-based Violence among Older Adults: Supportive Interventions

Source: Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario

Published: 2024

Summary:

In recognition of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, EAPO hosted a Virtual Learning Series to transform conversations on how we support older adults and unleash the power of agencies to break down walls for building a more robust community response to elder abuse. The Series is supported by the Department of Justice Canada.

Presenters :

The series was launched with keynote speaker Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), the Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, and principal investigator of an NIA-funded R01 study to understand the causes of abuse of people with dementia.

Dr. Mosqueda spoke on, Elder Abuse: Prevention, Detection, and Solutions.
This presentation is available on video and presentation is available to download.

Video

Presentation

Link: Gender-based Violence among Older Adults: Supportive Interventions

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Health Care, Social Services

WEAAD 2024 Webinar: Decision-making in Later Life: Navigating Risk and Optimizing Safety

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2024

Summary:

We all have the right to take risks and make choices that give our lives meaning. Risk taking is a fundamental part of decision making. However, older adults’ participation in activities that carry risk often comes under scrutiny, particularly if they experience physical, cognitive, mental health, or functional decline. This webinar will address how elder justice professions can support older adults in navigating the assessment, management, mitigation, and acceptance of risk that may expose them to abuse or harm.

WEAAD 2024 Webinar Resources

Link: WEAAD 2024 Webinar: Decision-making in Later Life: Navigating Risk and Optimizing Safety

Topics: Caregiving, Cognition/Capacity, Multidisciplinary Teams, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Preventing Elder Abuse: LGBTQ+ Elder Justice

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse and SAGE National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging

Published: 2024

Summary:

National Center on Elder Abuse and SAGE National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging

Download PDF

“It is up to all of us to prevent and address elder abuse especially as our older adult and LGBTQ+ populations grows. ”

The National Center on Elder Abuse and SAGE National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging developed this presentation to support public awareness related to elder justice and LGBTQ+ communities. You are encouraged to use these materials in your community and networks.

Link: Preventing Elder Abuse: LGBTQ+ Elder Justice

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Overview/General, Public Awareness

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Community

Collaborating for Justice

Source: National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)

Published: 2024

Summary:

  • Webinar 1: Introduction to Collaborating for Justice –  This webinar further introduces the guide and discusses the need for culturally-specific organizations.
  • Webinar 2: Guiding Principles of Equitable Collaboration – This webinar elaborates on the guiding principles of equitable collaboration.
  • Webinar 3: In conversation about Collaborating for Justice – This webinar features a conversation with culturally-specific program leaders, Antonia Norton of The Asha Project (Milwaukee, WI), Kalimah Johnson of The SASHA Center (Detroit, MI), and Dr. Patricia Davenport of Our House (Greenville, MS), about their experience and insights on equitable partnership development.

Link: Collaborating for Justice

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Multidisciplinary Teams

Access:

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Social Services

APS Supervisor Core

Source: San Diego State University School of Social Work, Academy for Professional Excellence.

Published: 2024

Summary:

APS Supervisor Core Competency training modules are based on research, national needs assessment data, stakeholder feedback, and evolving APS practice. Curriculum is developed with subject-matter experts in concert with the Supervisor Curriculum Advisory Committee (SCAC). Training is offered in a variety of curriculum lengths and modalities to accommodate supervisor’s competing demands. The training is intended for supervisors both new and experienced. Please note: Training modules will be released on a rolling basis as they are piloted, finalized, and reviewed by NAPSA Education Review Committee. Please see below for anticipated release dates.

Competency 1 – Understanding Self as Supervisor (CA)

Module 1A – Understanding Trauma Informed Care for APS Supervisors

Module 1B – The Unique Role of the APS Supervisor Instructor-Led Training or eLearning

Module 1C – Strengths-Based Development/Supervision

Competency 2 – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Transformation (CA)

Module 2A – Implicit Bias, Structural Racism

Module 2B – Building Cultural Humility & Responsiveness

Module 2C – How to Talk About Elder Abuse (60 min eLearning + 90-min instructor-led booster)

Competency 3 – Supporting Team Building and Individual Development (AZ*)

*Please follow the link to visit the NAPSA website and access the modules with the asterisk:

Module 3A – Building & Managing Effective APS Teams*

Module 3B – Supervisor as Trainer*

Module 3C – Onboarding New Staff (60 minute eLearning or Instructor-Led Training*)

Module 3D – Supervisor as Coach*

 

Competency 4 – Case Consultation and Critical Thinking (CA & AZ*)

*Please follow the link to visit the NAPSA website and access the modules with the asterisk:

Module 4A – Effective Case Consultation

Module 4B – Supervising Virtual investigations* OR Supervising Non Face-to-Face eLearning

Module 4C – Supervising APS Investigations Involving Transnational Financial Fraud*

Module 4D- Supervising Complex Cases

Competency 5 – Supervising for Accountability and Retention (CA & AZ*)

*Please follow the link to visit the NAPSA website and access the modules with the asterisk:

Module 5A – Data Informed Supervision, TBD

Module 5B – Supervising a Remote Workforce*

Module 5C –Managing Staff Challenges and Performance Issues

Competency 6 – Safety and Self Care

Module 6A – Supervisor Self-Care, TBD

Module 6B – Worker and Workplace Safety, TBD

Mod 6C – Emergency Preparedness & Response, TBD

Competency 7 – Collaboration and Leadership

Module 7A – Building Collaborations, TBD

Module 7B – Resource Development, TBD

Module 7C – Community Engagement, TBD

Module 7D – Leadership Development, TBD

Link: APS Supervisor Core

Topics: Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Ohio Mandated Reporter Online Training

Source: Benjamin Rose Institute

Published: 2024

Summary:

Learn to identify and report adult maltreatment.

As many states expand the scope of professionals who are required by law to report potential instances of adult abuse, neglect and exploitation, two newly-introduced online courses from Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging provide mandated reporters with the consistent, effective and practical training they need.

These self-guided, interactive modules allow participants to understand the various types of abuse, recognize potential cases of adult maltreatment, and understand how and when to report them to the proper authorities.

The two modules take about 60 minutes each to complete and are very affordably priced to allow access to a wide range of professionals. The courses are currently specific to the State of Ohio, but can be easily modified to accommodate the regulations and reporting structures of other states.

Mandated reporters of adult abuse now span a wide range of professionals. In Ohio, for example, nursing home workers, attorneys and financial planners, dentists and medical professionals, clergy, coroners, real estate brokers, firefighters and EMTs are among the many professionals who are required by law to report known and suspected cases of abuse. Simply put, training these professionals in identification of adult maltreatment and in proper reporting protocols can reduce suffering and save lives. 

 

Training Module 1 enables any mandated reporter to understand and define the various types of abuse.

This module enables participants to identify the common characteristics of both victims and perpetrators, as well as understand the reasons why abuse is so under-reported across the country.

Actual case studies are used to exemplify real -world scenarios and to aid participants in identifying potentially abusive situations.

Training Module 2 helps mandated reporters understand their responsibility to report abuse.

This module provides participants with a downloadable Reporting Protocol, a step-by-step guide for understanding which state agency is responsible for investigating abuse depending on client characteristics.

Also included is access to the Recognizing Abuse Tool, developed by Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and used in various federally funded projects in Utah, Oklahoma and Texas to screen for suspected abuse.

Cost of these online courses is just $10 for Module 1, $15 for Module 2 or $20 for both. Bulk discounts are available for professional associations offering the trainings to multiple members.

 

Continuing Education Credits Available

The training has been approved for nursing*, social work ethics**, and continuing legal education hours*** in Ohio. 

*This CE Activity, OLN-I-3147-2023 offered by Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging has been approved for 1.0 contact hour by the Ohio Board of Nursing through the approver unit at the Ohio League for Nursing (OBN-006-92) and the program is approved to be offered through September 18, 2025. This CE Activity, OLN-I-3148-2023 offered by Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging has been approved for 1.0 contact hour by the Ohio Board of Nursing through the approver unit at the Ohio League for Nursing (OBN-006-92) and the program is approved to be offered through September 18, 2025.

**The Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board has also approved the modules (CE Broker Tracking Numbers: MSX06238964 & MSX06238542) for one ethics continuing education hour each through June 30, 2025.

***The Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education has approved each self-study module for 1.0 general contact hour through December, 31, 2024.

Link: Ohio Mandated Reporter Online Training

Topics: Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Financial Abuse, Mandatory Reporting, Neglect, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Prevention/Intervention, Public Awareness, Screening/Assessment, Sexual Abuse

Access: Download, Web-based (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Finance, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Public Policy, Social Services

ELDER ABUSE CURRICULUM FOR MEDICAL RESIDENTS AND GERIATRIC FELLOWS

Source: USC Keck School of Medicine

Published: 2023

Summary:

As mandated reporters, physicians require training to screen, recognize, and respond to elder mistreatment in the clinical setting. Developed through the collaboration of elder abuse experts, geriatricians, and primary care physicians from the University of Southern California, University of California, Irvine, University of California, San Diego, and University of California, San Francisco, this interactive curriculum is available to integrate into residency and fellowship training programs.

Content is presented in an engaging, interactive format. National experts provide clinical pearls and knowledge drawn from years of experience and translational research. Material is delivered through didactic learning and expert instruction, coupled with interactive practicum exercises, experiential learning activities, role play scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and facilitated discussions. Instruction will engage the learners, animate the delivery of information, and optimize the learning exchange.

Link: ELDER ABUSE CURRICULUM FOR MEDICAL RESIDENTS AND GERIATRIC FELLOWS

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access:

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Health Care

Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement Tactical Training

Source: Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement

Published: 2024

Summary:

Tool for Your Elder Abuse Arsenal: EAGLE Tactical Training

EAGLE is pleased to share newly developed do-it-yourself training. EAGLE Tactical Training can be used to gain individual knowledge concerning the growing crime of elder abuse or can be used to facilitate a group training.

The training uses multiple learning techniques, including self-paced PowerPoint presentations, videos, and interactive case studies.

Features include:

  • EAGLE Video Site Tour
  • PowerPoint Presentations
  • Training Manual

Link: Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement Tactical Training

Topics: Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use:

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement Roll-Call Training Videos

Source: Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement

Published: 2024

Summary:

Roll-Call Training Videos include following topics:

Understanding Elder Abuse

Elder Abuse: False Imprisonment

Elder Abuse: Neglect

Elder Abuse Physical Abuse

Financial Abuse by a Stranger

Financial Exploitation by a Family Member

Interviewing Older Adults

Link: Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement Roll-Call Training Videos

Topics: Domestic Violence in Later Life, Financial Abuse, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Screening/Assessment

Access:

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Interviewing Older Adults

Source: Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement

Published: 2023

Summary:

Tips for Interviewing Older Adults including:

Overcoming Ageism

Do’s and Don’t for Memory Loss

Interviewing at the Right Time and Place

Be Prepared to Help

Tip Sheet

Video

Link: Interviewing Older Adults

Topics: Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

SAFE: Safe Accessible Forensic Interviewing for Elders

Source: US Department of Justice

Published: 2023

Summary:

Developed to meet the growing need for victim-centered interview techniques for use with older adults in criminal contexts, SAFE is grounded in forensic interviewing best practices with considerations and adaptations to account for age-related changes in cognition, underlying neuropathology (e.g., dementia), individual disability, language capacity, and cultural background.  All of the training materials needed to offer SAFE are provided below, with each training curriculum intended for a different audience (see Training Overview).

Link: SAFE: Safe Accessible Forensic Interviewing for Elders

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Legal, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

A Critical APS Partner: Understanding the Aging Network

Source: Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2023

Summary:

This webinar provides an overview of a critical APS partnership: The network of services and providers known as the Aging Network. Funded by the Older American’s Act (OAA), under the oversight of the Administration for Community Living, the Aging Network is a vital resource in meeting the needs of APS clients. The webinar covers the basic structure, mission, and services with a discussion of the practical implications for APS programs. The Presenters, Karl Urban and Jason Wagner, have worked for the Aging Network at the state and local level, currently work on OAA projects with ACL, and will bring real world experience to the presentation. Experienced APS staff may learn something new, or have an opportunity to ask questions they need answered, and new APS staff will learn about program to help their clients.

Video Recording

Link: A Critical APS Partner: Understanding the Aging Network

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams

Access:

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Scams and Fraud: Emotional Impact and Recovery

Source: Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2023

Summary:

The impact of fraud and scams is generally described by highlighting the amount of money transmitted from victims to perpetrators. That financial loss, even when it is devastating, only illuminates one piece of victims’ experiences. This session discusses how to identify the emotional toll taken by fraud, the range of emotions experienced by victims both immediately after the victimization and over time, and steps a service provider or advocate can be taken to improve the wellbeing of older fraud victims. We also confront, although we don’t promise to completely answer, the question of what can be done when victims are reluctant to believe they are on fraudsters’ hook. The presentation addresses how we talk about fraud and why some of the common language describing fraud can inadvertently harm victims, including by implying they are to blame for failing to identify the fraud, and our collective fraud fighting efforts, including by implying only certain people are vulnerable to fraud.

This webinar is the third session in a four-part series on fraud and scams. You need not watch every part of the series, please join us for some or all!

Link: Scams and Fraud: Emotional Impact and Recovery

Topics: Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Financial Abuse, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

APS Innovations Townhall on APS Language

Source: Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2023

Summary:

The APS TARC conducted the interactive session “APS Innovations Townhall on APS Language.” During that session, staff from the Administration for Community Living, the National APS Training Center, and the APS TARC facilitated a discussion on the evolution of terminology/language used in the APS field. This townhall is a continuation of that original discussion on the topic and features an interactive format where participants utilized chat and audio to respond and provide comments.

Video Recording

Link: APS Innovations Townhall on APS Language

Topics: Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

The OGs of Elder Justice in Conversation: M.T. Connolly & Laura Mosqueda

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2023

Summary:

The NCEA is excited to present the “OGs of Elder Justice” series. Elder justice trailblazers will share their experiences, challenges, joys, and contributions in the field. Join us as we honor the past, understand the present, and shape the future of elder justice, one conversation at a time. To kick off the series, we invite you to join us for an engaging conversation between M.T. Connolly and Dr. Laura Mosqueda. Discover this unique collaboration that has informed seminal elder justice legislation and intervention and profoundly advanced the field.

Link: The OGs of Elder Justice in Conversation: M.T. Connolly & Laura Mosqueda

Topics: Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use:

Audience: Advocates, Community, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement

Drafting Advance Planning Documents to Reduce the Risk of Abuse or Exploitation

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights

Published: 2023

Summary:

When drafting advance planning documents for clients, attorneys can utilize tools to reduce the risk of elder abuse or exploitation.

This training will provide strategies for:
• Selecting and empowering the right agent;
• Providing oversight and accountability;
• Drafting in reasonable limits on power and authority.

This training has been updated to help attorneys and advocates prepare clients for future needs through a range of decision supports and advance planning.

Presenter:
• David Godfrey, JD., Director, ABA Commission on Law and Aging

Link: Drafting Advance Planning Documents to Reduce the Risk of Abuse or Exploitation

Topics: Legal

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Lessons Learned from Judicial Education on Elder Abuse

Source: Futures without violence

Published: 2023

Summary:

Title: Lessons Learned from Judicial Education on Elder Abuse

Date: November 29, 2023

Link to Presenter Bios

Webinar Recording (Available soon)

Closed Captioning Transcript

PowerPoint Slides

Description:

Judicial education on abuse in later life and elder abuse is essential for judges sitting on all types of cases because elder abuse may be present in a civil, criminal, family, probate or even juvenile court context. Elder abuse is underreported and cases may not present as one might expect. This session will highlight some of the prevailing themes in judicial education on this topic and provide a snapshot of what judges are facing in various jurisdictions in responding to cases of elder abuse before them.

Learning Objectives:

As a result of this presentation, you will be better able to:

  • Describe the importance of access to judicial education on abuse in later life and elder abuse for judges across the U.S.
  • Identify fundamental components of judicial education that are an essential foundation for judges presiding over cases where abuse in later life is present
  • Consider how key learnings from the CA judicial education replication of the Enhancing Judicial Skills in Abuse in Later Life Cases apply to your own continuing education as a judge or judicial officer

Presenters: Judge Mark Juhas and Candace Heisler, Esq.

 

Questions? Please contact Vivian Baylor Email: learning@futureswithoutviolence.org

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GK-03995-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this website/publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, or Futures Without Violence.

Link: Lessons Learned from Judicial Education on Elder Abuse

Topics: Legal

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Caregiving Chronicles: Lived Experiences and Life Edits

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2023

Summary:

Join the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center (LACRC) at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology of USC with an esteemed panel of journalists, caregivers, and practitioners for a panel discussion to celebrate National Family Caregivers Month.

Gain insights from acclaimed journalists and caregivers who are amplifying the voices and experiences of caregivers, discover how practitioners can better integrate culturally sensitive and responsive approaches to support caregivers, and learn how to recognize signs of elder mistreatment and ways to embrace the opportunities and challenges in caregiving relationships.

PowerPoint Slide | Video Recording

Tips sheet
Tips and Tools for Providing Culturally Competent and Responsive Care to Older People who Experience Abuse
Tips and Tools for Safe and Supportive Caregiving

Link: Caregiving Chronicles: Lived Experiences and Life Edits

Topics: Caregiving

Access: Web-based

Intended Use:

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Social Services

Long-Term Care Services and Supports: LGBTQ+ Equity

Source: National Resource Center on LAGTQ+ Aging

Published: 2023

Summary:

Long-Term Care Services and Supports: LGBTQ+ Equity

September 2023 | SAGE, CFPB, FTC, NCEA

SAGE, the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) present this webinar on LGBTQ+ Equity and Elder Justice within the long-term care services and supports network.

Download PDF

Go to Web Site

 

Link: Long-Term Care Services and Supports: LGBTQ+ Equity

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Long-term Care, Prevention/Intervention, Public Awareness

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Health Care, Social Services

Safety Planning with Older Women Experiencing Violence

Source: Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario

Published: 2023

Summary:

This webinar provided an overview of violence against older women and safety planning.  Faciliators from WomanACT,  showcased their new tools and resources, inlcuding the micro-lessons that provide on-the-job training opportunities for practitioners working with older women experiencing violence.

Individuals gained better understanding of :

  • Identifying different considerations for safety planning with older women experiencing violence.
  • How to apply a trauma-informed and client-centred approach to safety planning with older women experiencing violence.
  • A saftey planning guide to older women for supporting older women experiencing violence
  • Approaches for prompting a conversation with a survivor about their options.
  • Safety planning templates
  • Resource map to support systems navigation

Watch Webinar

Video Recording

Resources From Webinar

WomanAct Resource Map

WomanAct Safety Planning Aid

Link: Safety Planning with Older Women Experiencing Violence

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community

Family Violence and Abuse in Later Life.

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights

Published: 2023

Summary:

Family violence and abuse in later life is a pervasive and challenging issue affecting millions of older adults throughout the country each year. Because such abuse often goes unreported, it is important for legal service providers, and other professionals working with older survivors of abuse, to understand and recognize the types of abuse and common tactics used by those who cause harm to assert power and control over older adults.

This session will explore ways that legal assistance, elder rights, and aging services professionals can work with older survivors of abuse in later life, which includes using a person-centered approach, implementing trauma-informed practices, and strategies for preventing further harm from occurring. Presenters will also provide information and resources for working with older survivors of abuse, which includes the benefits of collaborating with local service providers and community organizations.

Key Lessons

1. Family violence and abuse in later life is a prevalent and pervasive issue affecting millions of older adults throughout our communities.

2. There are several types of abuse experienced by older adults, including physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, psychological violence, financial exploitation, and trafficking. Forms of abuse often co-occur.

3. Those who commit harm may use many types of tactics to assert power and control over older adults.

4. Legal services professionals should adopt a person-centered approach when working with older survivors of family violence, which includes addressing acute or complex trauma and identifying and discussing the best strategies to prevent further harm from occurring.

Presenters:
• Candace Heisler, Retired Assistant District Attorney, San Francisco, Heisler & Associates
• Ann E. Laatsch, Justice System Coordinator, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)
• Erica Costello, Senior Attorney, ABA Commission on Law and Aging

View the Recording

Read the Chapter Summary

Download the Training Slides

Link: Family Violence and Abuse in Later Life.

Topics: Domestic Violence in Later Life, Legal, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Fireside Chat on Elder Justice Policy

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2023

Summary:

Join Dr. Laura Mosqueda, Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse and former Health and Aging Policy Fellow, Bob Blancato, National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition, and Nicole Howell, Health Policy Advisor to Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr., for a moderated “fireside chat.” They will discuss the current status of elder justice policy and what they see coming in the near future at the federal level. Explore a wide range of topics, including the reauthorization of the Elder Justice Act, critical nursing home provisions, and more. A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion.

Video Recording
PowerPoint
Elder Justice Policy Highlights March – August 2023

Link: Fireside Chat on Elder Justice Policy

Topics: Public Awareness

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Public Policy

The Impact of Adult Protective Services on Client Outcomes: Findings from a Multi-State Study

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2023

Summary:

The Impact of Adult Protective Services on Client Outcomes: Findings from a Multi-State Study brief from Raphael Gaeta, Anne Leopold, Mary Twomey, Zach Gassoumis, and Peter Lovegrove is now available on the website.

PowerPoint

R2P Brief (PDF)

Link: The Impact of Adult Protective Services on Client Outcomes: Findings from a Multi-State Study

Topics: Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Implicit Bias: What APS Professionals Need to Know

Source: APS TARC

Published: 2023

Summary:

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate” -Carl Jung. In order to address implicit bias, we have to understand bias. A bias is when, rather than being neutral, we have a preference or aversion toward a particular person, place, or thing. Implicit bias are the biases that we are not aware of, in our unconscious and impacts every decision we make. Implicit bias brings irrelevant factors into the decision-making process, such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and more. While implicit bias is unintentional and not a result of malicious intent, it can lead to judgements, assumptions, stereotyping, distortions, prejudice, profiling, discrimination, and intolerance without even realizing it. When implicit bias goes unchecked, it can influence every aspect of an adult protective service organization; from hiring and promotions to services provided to vulnerable older adults. The goal is for participants to become more aware of their own implicit bias and feel encouraged/motivated to examine, recognize, and manage their own implicit biases. In this webinar, participants will gain understanding of implicit bias and the impact on APS social work. Strategies on how to minimize the effect of implicit bias will be discussed. Speaker: Chante Brooks, MSW; Staff Development Officer, Riverside County, CA, DPSS

Video Recording

Link: Implicit Bias: What APS Professionals Need to Know

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

APSWI Video: Asking Inclusive Demographic Questions and Video Discussion Guide

Source: Academy for Professional Excellence, a project of the San Diego State University School of Social Work

Published: 2023

Summary:

Course Description

Using the APSWI Video: Asking Inclusive Demographic Questions and this new Video Discussion Guide, APS Supervisor and/or Facilitators can support staff in their responsibility to fulfilling the mandates of AB959 and provide culturally responsive services. This discussion guide provides information to help prepare a  Supervisor or Facilitator to incorporate the material as well as Frequently Asked Questions and video discussion prompts to use either in training, unit meetings or individual supervision.

Course Materials

Video Discussion Guide: Asking Inclusive Demographic Questions PDF

Asking Inclusive Demographic Questions Video

Link: APSWI Video: Asking Inclusive Demographic Questions and Video Discussion Guide

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Screening/Assessment

Access: Download

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Public Policy, Social Services

Closing the Justice Gap for Older Adults

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights

Published: 2023

Summary:

Legal Services Corporation & the Administration for Community Living collaborated on a new training series hosted by the National Center on Law & Elder Rights, Closing the Justice Gap for Older Adults. The most recent LSC Justice Gap Report shared that 70% of low-income older adult households had at least 1 civil legal problem in the past year, but older adults did not receive any or enough legal help for 91% of substantial problems.

This training series is designed for legal aid attorneys, staff, and partners to build capacity, expertise, and skills to provide counsel to older adults, with a person-directed and trauma-informed approach. The full recordings and materials are now available on the NCLER website.

Part 1: Representing Older Adults in Nursing Facility Eviction Cases 

Residents of nursing facilities may be threatened with improper evictions. Sometimes the facility alleges that it cannot meet the resident’s needs, even when the facility is legally obligated to provide the required care. Sometimes evictions are based improperly on discrimination against Medicaid-eligible residents. This training provides legal aid attorneys and staff with practical and readily actionable information and tools to represent older adults in nursing facility evictions.

Watch the recording and view the slides.

Part 2: Representing Clients with a Range of Decisional Capabilities

Individuals with cognitive impairments, such as dementia, and people subject to or at risk of guardianship are frequently met with barriers to request services for themselves. Ensuring that they are not turned away is an important step to make sure that older adults have access to representation in legal matters and court proceedings, particularly in matters that have a significant impact on their lives. This training explores how legal aid advocates may represent older individuals even—or especially when—their decisional abilities may be questioned by some.

Watch the recording and view the slides.

Part 3: Partnering with Adult Protective Services: Leveraging Strengths across Disciplines

This training explores how Adult Protective Services (APS) and civil legal aid can work together to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation and how a broad range of civil legal remedies empowers restoring agency to older adults who have experienced maltreatment and reduces risk of recurrence.

Watch the recording and view the slides.

Part 4: You Can Make a Difference – Defending Against or Terminating Guardianship

When representing a person with a guardian or someone who is allegedly in need of a guardian, an attorney may need to take extra steps to ensure their client has the right to counsel of their choice and to be a strong advocate on behalf of the client. This training prepares legal aid attorneys to represent individuals who may be subject to guardianship or who are under guardianship by using procedural and evidentiary tools, including alternatives to guardianship, to increase clients’ independence and autonomy and restore their civil rights.

Watch the recording and view the slides.

 

Link: Closing the Justice Gap for Older Adults

Topics: Legal

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

WEAAD 2023 Webinar: Trauma-Informed Practices to Address Abuse and Build Resilience

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2023

Summary:

Preventing and addressing elder abuse and building resilience in older adults requires a nuanced and trauma-informed approach. Trauma is a widespread issue that affects individuals in different ways. Older adults are exposed to multiple types of traumas over the lifetime as well as older adult-specific traumas, including the loss of spouse/ partner, social isolation, chronic illness or disability, change in living environment, and elder abuse. This panel webinar will discuss the cumulative and complex trauma histories of diverse older adults, how trauma relates to elder abuse, and strategies to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed support.

Slides

Recording

Transcript

Tips and Tools for Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care of Older People at the Intersection of Trauma, Aging, and Abuse

Link: WEAAD 2023 Webinar: Trauma-Informed Practices to Address Abuse and Build Resilience

Topics: Caregiving, Diversity/Cultural Competency, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Health Care, Social Services

Financial Wellness and Older LGBTQ+ People

Source: Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, National Center on Elder Abuse and SAGE

Published: 2023

Summary:

This webinar,  provides an overview of SAGE’s financial wellness app, SAGECents, and how SAGE is creating a safe space for older LGBTQ+ people to learn more about their finances, as well as provide tools to save money, increase their credit scores and more. FTC’s new consumer education campaign – Money Matters: How to Spot, Avoid, and Report Scams at FTC.gov/MoneyMatters. CFPB’s resources for financial caregiving, scam prevention, recovery from elder financial exploitation, and financial wellbeing. NCEA’s resources for identifying suspected older adult financial fraud and how to seek to support in your local community.

Video Recording

Link: Financial Wellness and Older LGBTQ+ People

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Financial Abuse, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community, Finance

Prevention & Detection of Elder Abuse

Source: Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic

Published: 2023

Summary:

In a presentation to Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, Dr. Laura Mosqueda, Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, discusses the roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals in assessing and documenting cases of elder abuse. She highlights the importance of recognizing the signs of abuse and provide insight into the challenges in diagnosing and addressing elder abuse, with a focus on physical abuse and neglect.

Video Recording

Geriatric-Injury Documentation Tool (GERI-IDT)

Link: Prevention & Detection of Elder Abuse

Topics: Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Health Care

Innovations in Healthy Aging – Elder Abuse: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention

Source: University of Arizona Health Sciences

Published: 2023

Summary:

As we age, our susceptibility to abuse and neglect increases, particularly for people who live with dementia. It can be hard to distinguish between a common age-related change and a change that may actually be a forensic marker of abuse or neglect such as a bruise or pressure sore. Many people who engage in abusive behaviors are ashamed or deeply sorry yet do not have the wherewithal to act differently; this does not excuse abusive behavior but it does help us understand and prevent it. In this lecture we will discuss how to detect abuse/neglect, what to do if you have a suspicion and how to help prevent it from occurring in the first place.

Video Recording

Link: Innovations in Healthy Aging – Elder Abuse: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Health Care, Social Services

The Range of Remedies in Elder Mistreatment

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2023

Summary:

Elder mistreatment cases are often complex, and contextual and cultural variations impact elder mistreatment perceptions and responses. These factors may create challenges in identifying and navigating appropriate remedies and responses. Recommended interventions vary based on the type, severity, and context of abuse as well as the goals, preferences, and values of the older adult who has experienced harm. Panelists will discuss the range and effectiveness of elder justice remedies and interventions, including restorative justice, criminal and civil legal remedies, and best practices in the field.

Video Recording
Webinar Slides

Link: The Range of Remedies in Elder Mistreatment

Topics: Legal, Multidisciplinary Teams

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Locked Away: Human Trafficking of At-Risk Adults

Source: California Elder Justice Coalition

Published: 2023

Summary:

Webinar Recording 
​​
Additional Resources mentioned during the webinar:

  • False Imprisonment Video: From the Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) website, this video was shown during the webinar
  • Resident Questionnaire: Please use this as a guide when questioning and interviewing victims of Benefits Trafficking. Some questions may not apply to the specific situation and may be omitted. 

​
Each day, older adults and adults with disabilities are being trafficked for their government benefits such as Social Security and Veterans’ benefits. Recruitment by traffickers happens through hospitals, jails, homeless shelters, mental health providers, and legitimate licensed care facilities. Victims are often locked away, living in deplorable conditions, robbed of their money, and unable to reach out for help. Learn how to spot the signs of this emerging type of trafficking and how to protect at-risk adult victims.

Presenter:

Anna Thomas is the manager of the Division of Aging Services – Forensic Special Initiatives Unit and most recently a Forensic Specialist with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crimes Against the Elderly and Disabled Task Force (CADE). CADE’s mission is to protect elder and disabled adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elder and disabled adults, and to prosecute offenders. Currently, her work with the CADE Task Force centers on training primary and secondary responders how to recognize and respond to elder and disabled adult abuse, researching gaps in current victim services, developing new laws to protect vulnerable adults, and public outreach. Her most recent projects are the launch of state-wide Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) and raising awareness of Benefits Trafficking.

This webinar is made possible by a grant from California Health Advocates Senior Medicare Patrol.

Link: Locked Away: Human Trafficking of At-Risk Adults

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Legal/Law Enforcement

Recovering from Elder Financial Exploitation

Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Published: 2023

Summary:

Learn about the Recovering from Elder Financial Exploitation report, a financial recovery framework explaining how and when older adults get money back after financial exploitation. Topics include identifying, reporting, and investigating elder fraud and returning funds to victims.

Video Recording

Webinar Slides 

Link: Recovering from Elder Financial Exploitation

Topics: Financial Abuse

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Finance

Innovations in Guardianship: Maximizing Autonomy and Ensuring Accountability

Source: Elder Justice Initiative

Published: 2023

Summary:

Guardianship is one approach to providing support and assistance to adults who need help with decision-making about finances and personal issues. However, as recent high-profile and less visible cases illustrate, guardianship can also infringe on personal rights and can lead to mistreatment of older adults and adults with disabilities.

Join us for a webinar to discuss current trends and challenges in state guardianship systems, policies and practice. Using real-life guardianship scenarios, the webinar will explore ways to maximize autonomy and ensure accountability throughout the guardianship process. Presenters will discuss less restrictive alternatives to guardianship as well as ways to improve adjudication and post-appointment oversight of guardians.

Speakers:

Alison Hirschel, Managing Attorney and Director, Michigan Elder Justice Initiative

Nicole Shannon, Systemic Advocate Attorney, Michigan Elder Justice Initiative

Link: Innovations in Guardianship: Maximizing Autonomy and Ensuring Accountability

Topics: Guardianship/Conservatorship, Legal, Public Awareness

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Tips and Tools for Safe and Supportive Caregiving

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2022

Summary:

About the Podcast:

In this 32 minute podcast, Ms. Mars and Dr. Benton discuss the prevalence of family caregiving, the challenges and rewards of caregiving, and barriers to help-seeking resources for overwhelmed carers. Drawing upon her thirty years of experience working with family caregivers, Dr. Benton suggests a broad range of resources and supports to facilitate successful caregiving and prevent mistreatment. The podcast highlights particular challenges and helpful supports for diverse family caregivers.

Featured Speakers:

Donna Benton, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Research associate professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, director of the Family Caregiver Support Center/LA Caregiver Resource Center at the School of Gerontology.

Donna Benton, Ph.D. is an Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Research associate professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. She is the director of the Family Caregiver Support Center/LA Caregiver Resource Center at the School of Gerontology. She was co-chair for the California Taskforce on Family Caregiving, which led to a report outlining recommendations for supporting family caregivers throughout the diverse communities in CA. She is a board member for the CA Elder Justice Coalition. She is currently serving on the DEI committee for the CA Master Plan for Aging. Her research focus is on evidence-based interventions for family caregivers. Her latest research is developing online education for family caregivers to persons with dementia to help prevent elder abuse. She has numerous publications and enjoys speaking on policy recommendations for family caregiver.

Lori Mars, JD, LLM

Deputy Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse

Lori Mars, JD, LLM, is the Deputy Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse. She is an assistant professor of clinical family medicine in the Department of Family Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. After practicing law for over 20 years, Lori’s concentration lies in the area of elder abuse research and education. She is interested in scholarship at the intersection of law, aging, and elder abuse. Ms. Mars has a master’s in law in alternative dispute resolution and serves as a volunteer long-term care ombudsman. She is passionate about elder justice and advocating for the rights of all older adults to live with dignity and respect.

Podcast landing page

Link: Tips and Tools for Safe and Supportive Caregiving

Topics: Caregiving

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers

Person-Centered Decision-Making: Options Less Restrictive Than Guardianship

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2022

Summary:

Featured Speakers:

Naomi Karp, JD

CONSULTANT, LAW, AGING & POLICY

Naomi Karp is a consultant on aging, law, and policy for educational, governmental and non-profit clients.  She is a lawyer and policy expert who has worked on aging issues for over 35 years.  Her areas of focus include elder financial exploitation, guardianship, health and financial decision-making, the impact of cognitive changes, and family caregiving.  She is the co-author of the Thinking Ahead Roadmap, a guide and web-based tool to help people keep their money safe as they age.  Her clients include the US Department of Justice, AARP, and the National Center on Elder Abuse.

From 2011 to 2019, Karp was a Senior Policy Analyst at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office for Older Americans.  At the Bureau, Karp was the team lead for the Managing Someone Else’s Money guides for financial caregivers; a manual for long-term care facilities on protecting residents; and the agency’s work with financial institutions on preventing and responding to elder financial abuse.

Previously Karp worked on a spectrum of aging issues at the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging and at AARP’s Public Policy Institute.  She began her career as a legal services attorney for low-income and older clients. She received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law and her BA from the University of Michigan.

Erica F. Wood, JD

CONSULTANT, LAW AND AGING

Erica F. Wood served as Assistant Director of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, and was associated with the Commission from 1980 to 2020, where she worked primarily on issues concerning adult guardianship, health and financial decision-making, legal services delivery, dispute resolution, health and long-term care, and access to court. She has participated in national studies on public guardianship and guardianship monitoring; and played a role in convening national consensus conferences on guardianship. Prior to 1980, she served as staff attorney at Legal Research and Services for the Elderly, National Council of Senior Citizens. Ms. Wood received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from the George Washington University. She has spoken and written on law-related topics concerning older adults for many years. In 2013 she received the Isabella Horton Grant Guardianship Award from the National College of Probate Judges.

Erica Wood currently serves as a member of the Virginia Commonwealth Council on Aging and the Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Advisory Board. She previously served on the advisory board of the Virginia Public Guardianship and Conservatorship Program.  She has been a member of the Arlington Commission on Aging, and chair of the Arlington Commission on Long-Term Care Residences.  She is interested in aging advocacy and is an active member of the Northern Virginia Aging Network.

About the Podcast:

Two attorneys with expertise in guardianship and alternatives will take us on a journey through the least restrictive methods to remain autonomous in decision making and explore the options available should capacity decline. The series includes two related podcasts. The first podcast (32 minutes) focuses on health care and personal decision-making; and the second podcast (41 minutes) focuses on financial and property decision-making. Both podcasts include an introduction explaining conceptual frameworks for the two kinds of decision-making.

Podcast landing page

Link: Person-Centered Decision-Making: Options Less Restrictive Than Guardianship

Topics: Guardianship/Conservatorship

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Legal/Law Enforcement

Dignity for All: Staffing Standards Benefit Residents and Workers

Source: National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

Published: 2023

Summary:

This webinar serves as the launch of our “Dignity for All: Staffing Standards Now!” campaign advocating for a minimum staffing standard in nursing homes. We discussed the importance of adequate staffing for residents’ safety and health. We also featured the voices of residents and long-term care facility workers, who shared what it is like to live and work in a nursing home without adequate staffing.

Video

Link: Dignity for All: Staffing Standards Benefit Residents and Workers

Topics: Long-term Care, Public Awareness

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers

Innovative Responses to Self-Neglect

Source: APS TARC

Published: 2023

Summary:

Self-neglect allegations are investigated by most APS programs across the U.S. and Territories and make up a large part of APS staff caseloads (McGee & Urban, 2021). As the larger APS field is learning about working more effectively with these complex cases, and with the addition of new APS grant funding, many APS programs are exploring alternative responses to working with self-neglecting individuals. Join us as we learn how APS programs in Colorado, Oregon and Tennessee are partnering across the spectrum to develop and pilot innovative policy and practice in responding to self-neglect.

Presenters:
– Joyce Reed, Field Operations Director, Adult Protective Services/Child Care & Community Services, Tennessee Department of Human Services

– Traci L. Robertson, APS Complex Case Investigator & Self-Neglect Subject Matter Expert, Guardian/Conservator Contract Administrator, Oregon Department of Human Services Aging and People with Disabilities, Adult Protective Services/Central Office APS Unit

– Stefanie Woodard, MPA, Program Manager, Adult Protective Services (APS) and CAPS Check Unit (CCU), Adult Mistreatment Prevention and Response Section, Colorado Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services

Link: Innovative Responses to Self-Neglect

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Neglect, Self-neglect

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Person-Centered Approaches to Elder Abuse

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2023

Summary:

Person-Centered care has been defined in geriatric medicine as care where “individuals’ values and preferences are elicited and once expressed, guide all aspects of their health care, supporting their realistic health and life goals.” This approach has potential for improving outcomes for elder abuse victims, but adaptation to elder abuse interventions is in its infancy. This webinar will be a discussion on person-centered approaches used with victims of elder abuse, among professionals from programs that assist victims by understanding what is important to them. This webinar will cover:
• the definition of person-centered care, in the context of working with elder abuse victims
• lessons learned from this service paradigm
• observed benefits for elder abuse victims
• challenges of this approach
• resources and tools

Video | Slide | Tip Sheet

Link: Person-Centered Approaches to Elder Abuse

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Navigating Family Caregiving: Personal Stories and Practical Tools

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2022

Summary:

Join the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center (LACRC) at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology of USC, and the Diverse Elders Coalition with an esteemed panel of authors, caregivers, and practitioners for a panel discussion to celebrate National Family Caregivers Month. Panelists will discuss navigating complex dynamics and boundaries in caregiving relationships, how professionals and agencies can respond more effectively to caregivers’ needs, the impact of culture on caregiving, and strategies to identify and prevent elder mistreatment in caregiving relationships. A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion. Closed captioning will be available during the webinar.

Caregiving Podcast

Tips and Tools for Safe and Supportive Caregiving

Slides | Video Recording

Link: Navigating Family Caregiving: Personal Stories and Practical Tools

Topics: Caregiving, Cognition/Capacity

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers

Reframing Long-Term Care Lunch and Learn Series

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2022

Summary:

“The Frameworks Institute and the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) are teaming up to bring you the Reframing Long-Term Care Lunch and Learn Series. The series will feature 3 sessions on reframed LTC outreach materials, how to apply this concept, and how to get others to join in the movement to address and prevent abuse in LTCs.

  • In the first session we will be discussing, “How to Share the NASEM Report, The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality, with Public Audiences” from the Frameworks Institute. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) recently released much-anticipated recommendations in The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality: Honoring Our Commitment to Residents, Families, and Staff. Join Jessica Moyer from FrameWorks in this back to school session as we review this piece, learn the significance of this report, and how we can use the reframing communication tools to spread awareness of it with our audiences.

Session 1 Video | Slide

  • In the second session, learn about the process of applying these techniques to public-facing materials that your organization can utilize.  Julie Schoen, NCEA Emeritus and EAGLE Project Director and Anna Marie Trester from FrameWorks will walk you through how the NCEA has begun to translate our own materials dealing with elder abuse in long-term care.

Session 2 Video | Slide | Quick Start Guide

 

More on Reframing Elder Abuse 

The Reframing Elder Abuse Project is a communications strategy and toolkit that reimagines our cultural dialogue on elder abuse developed by the NCEA in partnership with the FrameWorks Institute. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released the report, The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality: Honoring Our Commitment to Residents, Families, and Staff in 2022. In response, the FrameWorks Institute developed new framing guidance on how to share the NASEM Report. The first webinar of NCEA’s Lunch and Learn series introduced these guidelines and key concepts on how to use the communications tools to spread awareness among policymakers and community audiences. 

Link: Reframing Long-Term Care Lunch and Learn Series

Topics: Public Awareness

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community

Understanding and Fighting the Grandparent Scam: What Aging Network Professionals Should Know

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2022

Summary:

Grandparent scams play on the love grandparents share with their grandchildren by misrepresenting that a grandchild is in trouble with the law or sick or injured and in need of an immediate transfer of large sum of money to prevent dire harm to the grandchild. The scammers are becoming more audacious even coming to the door of intended targets, and any grandparent could fall for this insidious scam. In this webinar aging services professionals will learn how to identify this fraud, empower grandparents to resist this scam, how to partner up with law enforcement to go after the scammers and how to help those who have experienced this scam to recover from their losses and regain their agency.
Handouts: Slides | Handout

Video: Recording 

Link: Understanding and Fighting the Grandparent Scam: What Aging Network Professionals Should Know

Topics: Financial Abuse, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Social Services

Reframing the Conversation on Elder Abuse Video Lecture Series

Source: Frame Works

Published: 2022

Summary:

The Reframing Elder Abuse Project is a communications strategy and toolkit that reimagines our cultural dialogue on elder abuse developed by the NCEA in partnership with the FrameWorks Institute. This new communication approach helps to avoid unproductive messaging and effectively engage audiences on the issue of elder abuse. The Talking Elder Abuse Toolkit provides resources and tips to improve the public’s awareness of elder abuse, enhance understanding of the underpinning issues, and elevate public exchange on the topic.

The NCEA’s mission, as the lead elder abuse resource center in the nation, is to spread awareness of and implement the Reframing Elder Abuse communication strategy across the nation. If we all adopt this communication style into our day-to-day advocacy, we can continue to gain momentum in building public understanding and support to address elder abuse.

Use code “NCEAELDERJUSTICE”

Link: Reframing the Conversation on Elder Abuse Video Lecture Series

Topics: Public Awareness

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community

Equity and Cultural Humility in APS Beginning the Conversation Around Staff and Client Experiences

Source: Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2022

Summary:

Join presenters representing the perspectives of adult protective services, legal, and behavioral health to explore the topic of equity and cultural humility in APS. The goal is to raise awareness of the barriers and challenges staff and clients from traditionally marginalized communities may experience within established systems as well as discuss strategies and offer resources to support the growth and advancement of culturally responsive services and staff support.

Video: Recording 

Link: Equity and Cultural Humility in APS Beginning the Conversation Around Staff and Client Experiences

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Disability Inclusion in Adult Protective Service: Past, Present, and Future

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association

Published: 2022

Summary:

Disability Inclusion in Adult Protective Services: Past, Present, and Future Webinar Series.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Link: Disability Inclusion in Adult Protective Service: Past, Present, and Future

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Mandatory Reporting, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Social Services

Cultural and Linguistic Competence: What it Means for Ombudsman Programs

Source: National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center

Published: 2020

Summary:

This webinar offers definitions and conceptual frameworks for cultural competence and linguistic competence and examines what they mean for Ombudsman Programs, their staff, and volunteers. It also offers examples of two programs that provide professional development and training on implicit and explicit biases and the unique cultural issues related to underserved lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community within long-term care.

Speakers: Tawara D. Goode, Assistant Professor and Director, Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence; Sara (Socia) Gusler, LBSW, Certified Local Long Term Care Ombudsman; and Joseph Rodrigues, California State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

Materials

Video Recording 

Link: Cultural and Linguistic Competence: What it Means for Ombudsman Programs

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Social Services

Exploring Restorative Approaches to Elder Justice

Source: California Elder Justice Coalition

Published: 2022

Summary:

Exploring Restorative Approaches to Elder Justice- Webinar #1: Syracuse, New York’s “Long Game” for Adopting Restorative Approaches to Elder Abuse (January  2022)

Webinar recording
​
Restorative Justice Toolkit

​In 2016, a small group of Syracuse, New York service providers and researchers gathered to explore restorative justice approaches to elder abuse. Recognizing the challenges they faced, the group developed “the long game,” which began with a qualitative research project to evaluate service providers’ perceptions of using RJ in this context. They went on to explore RJ approaches to elder abuse around the world, which resulted in an article analyzing existing efforts and offering recommendations and a conference that brought together leaders of the RJ and elder abuse movement to share models and expertise. The presenters will discuss their research, tentative conclusions, and their “eCORE Project,” which offers community building and conflict resolution circles to seniors.
Presenters:
• Maria Brown, Assistant Research Professor, School of Social Work and Aging Studies Institute, Syracuse University Falk College
• Mary Helen McNeal, Professor and Director, Elder and Health Law Clinic, Syracuse University College of Law

 

Exploring Restorative Approaches to Elder Justice- Webinar #2: A Circle Approach to Healing the Harm of Financial Exploitation (February 2022)

Webinar recording
Restorative Justice Toolkit

​The Waterloo Restorative Justice Elder Abuse Project, developed over two decades ago, remains one of the few programs of its kind serving older adults. Attendees to this session will preview a video depicting how the Waterloo program uses a peacemaking circle to reduce the harm to family relationships following financial elder abuse. The video’s producer and circle co-facilitators will discuss the benefits and challenges of applying restorative justice to elder abuse, potential applications and settings in which it can be used, and steps for implementing programs.
Presenters:
• Eva Marszewski is founder and director of Peacebuilders (Canada), a nonprofit organization that provides restorative programs and services to young people and works towards effecting change in the justice and education systems.
• Arlene Groh, retired consultant, Healing Approaches to Elder Abuse Waterloo (Ontario) and founding director of the Community Care Access Centre’s Restorative Justice Approach to Elder Abuse Project. 

 

Exploring Restorative Approaches to Elder Justice- Webinar #3: A Cultural Perspective on Restorative Justice (March 2022)

Webinar Recording​
Restorative Justice Toolkit

​This session highlights traditional tribal practices for responding to elder abuse that are based on a culture of respect and justice for elders, and will explore ways those traditional practices may interface with or inform restorative approaches in mainstream institutions.
Panelists include:

  • Jacqueline Gray (ret.),  Research Associate Professor, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, and principal investigator, National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI) at the Center for Rural Health, University of North Dakota
  • Maylynn Riding In, Graduate Research Assistant, NIEJI, and Health Policy Research Scholar, Public Health Education, University of North Dakota  ​(Presented by Wendelin Hume, Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, University of North Dakota)
  • Kay Pranis, national leader in restorative justice and author of multiple books, including the Little Book of Circle Processes: A New/Old Approach to Peacemaking 

 

Exploring Restorative Approaches to Elder Justice– Webinar #4: Restorative Justice / Elder Abuse Prevention Showcase (April 2022)

Webinar Recording 
​​
Restorative Justice Toolkit

​This session will highlight restorative practices and approaches that are being applied to prevent elder abuse by local communities and tribes.
Panelists include:

  • Mike Payne, Detective Constable, Special Victims Unit and Senior Support Team, Waterloo Regional Police Service
  • Margaret Carson, Program Manager, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Adult Protective Services Program
  • Maylynn Riding In, Graduate Research Assistant, National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI), and the Health Policy Research Scholar, Public Health Education, University of North Dakota

​
Webinars 3 and 4 are co-sponsored by the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI) at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota, and the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), in addition to our series co-sponsors Institute on Aging and Legal Aid Association of California.  The series is made possible by a grant from the van Loben Sels/RembeRock Foundation.

Link: Exploring Restorative Approaches to Elder Justice

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Financial Abuse, Legal, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access:

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Legal/Law Enforcement, Public Policy

A Strong and Just Ohio: Reframing the Elder Abuse Discussion

Source: Ohio Attorney General

Published: 2022

Summary:

The Elder Abuse Commission’s 2022 Elder Abuse Awareness Day Event, A Strong and Just Ohio: Reframing the Elder Abuse Discussion, was held virtually on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The webinar featured Julie Schoen and Alycia Cisneros from the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) and several Elder Abuse Commission organization members.

The webinar explained the importance of all of us supporting and promoting the reframing elder abuse discussion. We learned how to restructure our communities and place elder abuse on the public agenda, generate a sense of collective responsibility, and boost support for systemic solutions to preventing and responding to elder abuse effectively.

The Elder Abuse Commission believes that events and activities like this, that commemorate Ohio Elder Abuse Awareness Day annually, provide an opportunity to increase elder awareness state-wide. The Commission members are proud of Ohio’s continuous progress in its work to protect Older Adults. However, we still have much to accomplish. This webinar reinforced what we know and pushed attendees to identify new ways to work together towards a strong and just ohio for everyone.

Webinar Recording

Webinar Slide Deck (pdf) 

Link: A Strong and Just Ohio: Reframing the Elder Abuse Discussion

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community

Effectively Working APS Cases for Persons Experiencing Homelessness Series

Source: Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI)

Published: 2022

Summary:

The series is designed to provide APS professionals with knowledge, practical tools, opportunities to build empathy and gain a better understanding of what many individuals who are homeless experience in order to work more effectively with this population. Participants will gain insight to how the Nation has shaped the response to homelessness on a federal and state (CA) level, what resources currently exist and how they can use those resources to help the people they work with. Participants will also be given resources to continue their learning process as programs and funding evolve.

Workshop 1: Homelessness in Older Adults- Examining the Layers

In this first workshop, APS professionals will learn some fundamentals on the experience of homelessness and explore biases when working with this population. After completing this first workshop, participants will have the foundation to better assess barriers for each individual they work with and help those individuals increase their protective factors such as resiliency and self-care.

Workshop 2: Responding to APS Cases Involving Adults Experiencing Homelessness

The goal of this workshop is to build on the foundational concepts in Workshop #1 and provide opportunities to broaden APS professionals’ skills when working with people who are experiencing homelessness. These cases are often complex and this workshop allows participants to understand more about this complexity and see the intense reality they may endure when out in the field. Throughout this workshop, participants will take best practices from the field of Homelessness Outreach, tailor and apply them to the purpose of Adult Protective Services.

Precarious Housing and Homelessness in Older Adults: Resources and Collaboration

Participants will gain insight to how the Nation has shaped the response to homelessness on a federal and state (CA) level, what resources currently exist and how they can use those resources to help the people they work with. Participants will also be given resources to continue their learning process as programs and funding evolve.

Link: Effectively Working APS Cases for Persons Experiencing Homelessness Series

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Investigating Complaints Involving Allegations of Abuse

Source: The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center

Published: 2022

Summary:

NORC provides daily in-depth technical assistance, consultation, information, and referral, for Ombudsman programs. To increase direct access to technical assistance (TA) and peer support, NORC is hosting quarterly live technical assistance dialogues. The TA Talks are also live streamed on the NORC Facebook page.

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), join us to talk about the role of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program (LTCOP) in investigating complaints involving allegations of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.

Beverley Laubert, National Ombudsman Program Coordinator, Administration for Community Living (ACL), will open the discussion by reviewing pertinent federal requirements and guidance that explain the role of the LTCOP in investigating allegations of abuse. Dale Watson, South Carolina State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and Jessica Winters, Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman representative, South Carolina, will share a case example with local and state level advocacy and coordination with other entities such as Adult Protective Services (APS), state licensing and certification, Medicaid, and the Attorney General. There will be ample time for questions and discussion following the presentations.

Video Recording

PowerPoint Slides

Link: Investigating Complaints Involving Allegations of Abuse

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Asking Inclusive Demographic Questions – How To Do It and Why It Matters

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2022

Summary:

At the heart of APS practice is person-centered intake, investigation, and service planning. To develop an appropriate service plan, we must have a clear sense of who is sitting before us – their community and support networks; what their needs, preferences, and access points are; and any potential barriers to care and services. This data then feeds into case management systems and onto the broader field through systems such as the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) to help inform practice, research, funding, etc. Join us as we unpack what goes into asking inclusive demographic questions – tips and best practices, training resources, and peer support. This webinar contains clips of the video Asking Inclusive Demographic Questions courtesy of Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations, Academy for Professional Excellence.

Video

Link: Asking Inclusive Demographic Questions – How To Do It and Why It Matters

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Mandatory Reporting, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Identifying and Addressing Undue Influence in Elder Abuse Cases

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights

Published: 2022

Summary:

Financial exploitation has been identified as one of the most prevalent forms of elder abuse. Often, financial exploitation cases involve undue influence. Undue influence occurs when a third party uses their role and power to exploit someone and deceptively gain control over the decision making of that person. Undue influence can affect anyone, even those with decision-making capacity, but often it impacts people with cognitive impairments or those who are isolated.

In this training, participants will gain an understanding of:
1. What undue influence is and who may be most at risk;
2. Indicia or red-flags that might alert advocates to the existence of undue influence;
3. Action steps and options when undue influence may be present; and
4. Proactive measures that advocates can share with older adults to help them avoid undue influence.

Presenters:
• David Godfrey, J.D., ABA Commission on Law and Aging
• Sandra D. Glazier, Esq., Special Advisor to the ABA Commission on Law and Aging and Equity Shareholder of Lipson Neilson P.C.
• Andrea Marcin, Equal Justice Works Fellow – Elder Justice Program, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service

Link: Identifying and Addressing Undue Influence in Elder Abuse Cases

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Financial Abuse, Legal, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community, Finance, Legal/Law Enforcement

Elder Abuse: Prevention, Intervention, and Remediation

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Abuse

Published: 2022

Summary:

Everyone who works with older adults has a role to play in prevention, intervention, and remediation of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Helping starts with understanding the landscape of elder abuse and the service providers and systems involved in addressing abuse. This legal basics training will provide an overview of the fundamentals of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and the signs and signals of abuse that attendees can reference in their daily lives and work.

At the end of this training, participants will be able to:
• Describe the three stages of responses to abuse
• Apply basic definitions of abuse, neglect, and exploitation
• Identify risk factors or signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation
• Identify the differences between undue influence, exploitation, and fraud
• Describe added risks in a time of COVID-19

Presenter:
• David Godfrey, JD, Senior Attorney, American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging

Link: Elder Abuse: Prevention, Intervention, and Remediation

Topics: Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Legal/Law Enforcement

Supporting Conversations on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Within APS Programs

Source: Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI)

Published: 2022

Summary:

In this 17 minute video, viewers will observe an APS Professional meeting with their supervisor to discuss a recent interview with their client designed to: 1) support APS Professionals who encounter racist and/or discriminatory remarks during the performance of their duties, 2) provide one example to APS Supervisors on how to foster a supportive work environment that enhances diversity, equity, and inclusion, and 3) encourage APS Professionals to create “an appropriate space” where they can explore and process their own personal reactions to client encounters that present objectionable types of behavior. In the video, the R.A.V.E.N framework is introduced to describe an approach that can be useful when responding to microaggressions that occur in public (physical and online) spaces. Video developed by Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI). The R.A.V.E.N. Approach is adapted from Dr. J. Luke Wood, Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity and Dr. Frank Harris III, professor of postsecondary education and Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL) of San Diego State University.

Link: Supporting Conversations on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Within APS Programs

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Addressing Abuse in Long-Term Care Facilities

Source: Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care

Published: 2022

Summary:

Abuse is defined in the federal nursing home regulations as the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish. It can take many forms including physical abuse, verbal, sexual, mental, emotional, and financial. Even though federal law states that residents of long-term care facilities have the right to be free from abuse, it still does occur and is largely under-reported and inadequately investigated and addressed.

In this episode we are talking with Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics, and Beverley Laubert, the National Ombudsman Program Coordinator at the Administration for Community Living about abuse of those living in long-term care facilities – an issue that affects thousands of residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care settings.

Recent data indicates increased concern about incidences of abuse in long-term care facilities. That, along with the fact that June 15 is designated as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), made us think it was important and timely to talk about this issue.

Audio

Link: Addressing Abuse in Long-Term Care Facilities

Topics: Caregiving, Long-term Care, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Health Care

Federal Partners Take on the WEAAD 6-1-5 Challenge!

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2022

Summary:

On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), June 15th, get the latest data and resources you can use to promote elder justice all year long.

The #WEAAD615 challenge encourages people around the world to engage their friends, family, and colleagues by sharing facts about elder abuse and how to prevent it. This year, federal agencies will take this challenge with a twist, sharing 6 facts about elder abuse, 1 action the agency will take, and 5 resources or tips you can use to promote elder justice.

Register today to hear from the NCEA and our partners: Administration for Community Living (ACL), Elder Justice Initiative at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center (SMP Resource Center).

Video Recording

PowerPoint Slide

 

Link: Federal Partners Take on the WEAAD 6-1-5 Challenge!

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Overview/General, Preparedness and Response, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Finance, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Addressing Financial Exploitation in Older Adults Through Community Partnerships

Source: National Center for Equitable Care for Elders

Published: 2022

Summary:

Summary: As the population of community-dwelling older adults continues to grow, they face increased risk of becoming targets of traditional and increasingly sophisticated forms of financial exploitation perpetrated by strangers and known contacts alike.

This National Center for Equitable Care for Elders (NCECE) webinar will feature the work of the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services to highlight the importance of coordinating supportive services that can assist in protecting older adults from financial fraud and abuse.

After participating in this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Examine health, financial, and technological risk factors in older adults that contribute to susceptibility to fraud or exploitation
  • Explain the benefits and limitations of social needs assessments to identify forms of elder abuse
  • Adopt shared strategies for collaboration with aging services providers and local organizations to support at-risk older adult patients

Intended Audience: Health center providers and staff who care for older adults

Video Recording

Webinar Slides

Link: Addressing Financial Exploitation in Older Adults Through Community Partnerships

Topics: Caregiving, Financial Abuse, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Health Care, Social Services

Recognize, Report, Respond (R3) – Co-Designing a Technology-Based System With and For People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2022

Summary:

The second in a series of podcasts which share promising practices and innovations from various APS programs who have received Administration for Community Living (ACL) discretionary grants. In this podcast, Jennifer Spoeri, APS TARC Subject Matter Expert, Mariah Freark, Deputy General Counsel for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC), John Mullaly and Brian Kelley, both with MASS Advocates (Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong), discuss the person-centered, collaborative co-design/development/implementation of an enhanced technology-based abuse education and reporting system called, “Recognize, Report, Respond (R3)” for use by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Link: Recognize, Report, Respond (R3) – Co-Designing a Technology-Based System With and For People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Forensic Accounting: Tools for Financial Exploitation Investigations (Part 1 and 2)

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2021

Summary:

In the first of a two-part webinar series, Jason Olson and Doug Cash, forensic accountants, define what forensic accounting is and how financial investigative techniques can be leveraged for financial exploitation investigations. They cover where to start with an investigation, what to look for, how to identify what is missing, how to summarize findings, and how forensic investigative technology tools can assist with investigations. (Webinar date: October 26, 2021)

Presenters:

Jason Olson, MBA, CPA/CFF, CFE, CFI, Partner, Fraud & Forensic Advisory Services, Eide Bailly, LLP Douglas Cash, MBA, CFE, CFI, Sr. Manager, Fraud & Forensic Advisory Services, Eide Bailly LLP

Part 1 Video

Join your APS colleagues from four different states/counties for a panel discussion on how and why they have integrated forensic accounting/accountants/tools into their APS programs, including some of the case outcomes. This webinar is the second in a two-part webinar series for ACL APS formula grant recipients on the topic of forensic accounting. (Webinar date: November 16, 2021)

Panelists:

-Carmen M. Castaneda, MSW, LICSW, Program Manager, Adult Protective Services, Hennepin County Human Services Department

– Stephanie Edwards, MSG, Family Services Specialist III, Adult Protective Services Unit, York-Poquoson Social Services

– Arielle Finney, APS Policy and Legislative Program Manager, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services / Adult Protective Services Division

– Traci Lee, Program Administrator, Division of Aging and Adult Services, Adult Protective Services, Utah Department of Human Services

Part 2 Panel Discussion Video

Link: Forensic Accounting: Tools for Financial Exploitation Investigations (Part 1 and 2)

Topics: Financial Abuse, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Finance, Social Services

Money Mule Scams: Tips for Prevention, Identification, and Trauma-Informed Assistance

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights

Published: 2022

Summary:

Join us for an important discussion about money mule scams. “Money mules” are individuals who receive and move money that came from victims of fraud. Some money mules know they are participating in a crime, but others are not aware that they are assisting in a crime. Attendees will learn the basics about money mule scams, including examples of these scams, tips for prevention and identification, how individuals can seek help, and available consumer education materials.

Jacqueline Blaesi-Freed from the Department of Justice will provide an overview of these scams and share their work to identify and address money mule activities. Sarah Galvan from NCLER and Jane Handley from Indiana Legal Services will share tips for how elder justice advocates can assist individuals impacted by this scam, with a trauma-informed approach. Additionally, attendees will hear from Hilary Dalin about the Administration for Community Living funded Elder Justice Resource Centers hosting this webinar, the aging network professionals they support, and how to contact them for applicable assistance.

Hosted By ACL Elder Justice Resource Centers: Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center (APS-TARC), National Adult Protective Services Training Center (NATC), National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), National Center on Law & Elder Rights (NCLER), National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC), National Pension Assistance Resource Center (NPARC), National Resource Center on Women & Retirement (NRCWR)

You can download the slides here, read about the Resources Centers here, and view the recording here.

Link: Money Mule Scams: Tips for Prevention, Identification, and Trauma-Informed Assistance

Topics: Financial Abuse, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Finance

Nursing Home Neglect: Preventing It and Getting Help

Source: Consumer Education Podcasts

Published: 2022

Summary:

The pandemic has renewed concerns about the quality of care that residents receive in some nursing homes, and many family members have reported significant decline in the condition of their loved ones. Neglect and abuse of older adults is a long-standing problem that is under-reported and has not received the necessary attention and response from policymakers, yet it results in needless and preventable suffering and harm.

In this episode with Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, we talk about neglect, which is the failure to provide goods and services to an individual that are necessary to avoid physical harm, pain, mental anguish, or emotional distress. Neglect may or may not be intentional.

Neglect is the failure to provide goods and services to a resident that are necessary to avoid physical harm, pain, mental anguish, or emotional distress. That could include the failure to provide the staffing, supplies, services, or staff training to meet the resident’s needs. Neglect may or may not be intentional.

A person living in a nursing home has the right to be free of abuse and neglect. Federal law requires nursing homes to provide each resident the services and activities to “attain or maintain [their] highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.” This resource provides a signs of neglect, red flags, and tips on how to take action to report neglect. View the fact sheet, and watch the video.

Link: Nursing Home Neglect: Preventing It and Getting Help

Topics: Long-term Care, Neglect, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Health Care, Social Services

Improving APS Financial Exploitation Investigations Through Innovative Multi-Disciplinary Partnerships

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2022

Summary:

The inaugural podcast, with Jennifer Spoeri, APS TARC Subject Matter Expert, and Angela Medina, APS Director of Policy and Performance Management at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, focuses on how the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is improving financial exploitation investigations and client services through multi-disciplinary partnerships and the use of high-level forensic accounting.

| Audio

Link: Improving APS Financial Exploitation Investigations Through Innovative Multi-Disciplinary Partnerships

Topics: Financial Abuse, Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

The Evidence Hour: Violence Across the Lifecourse – Child Maltreatment, Intimate Partner Violence, and Elder Mistreatment

Source: Center for Victim Research

Published: 2022

Summary:

Todd I. Herrenkohl, Ph.D. discussed findings from the literature review about the developmental associations between child maltreatment, violence in adolescence, and intimate partner violence (IPV) and elder mistreatment. Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D. reviewed the existing, though limited, evidence on the close association between adult IPV and elder mistreatment. They noted what is known about the persistence of violence in and across family and other interpersonal relationships, noting where gaps in knowledge remain and where research is particularly strong. Sandy Bromley, JD, discussed applying this research, such as providing survivors’ time and space to talk about previous experiences of violence to preventing further violence in communities by deploying psychoeducational resources after a violent event. All presenters talked about risk and protective factors and emphasized that “violence is not inevitable.”

WATCH

The Center for Victim Research’s webinar series, The Evidence Hour, showcases a recent systematic review* or meta-analysis about victimization, trauma, or victim services. Each webinar features an author of the research and a practitioner discussant who will review the findings and reflect on what they mean for victim service providers and researchers.

Link: The Evidence Hour: Violence Across the Lifecourse – Child Maltreatment, Intimate Partner Violence, and Elder Mistreatment

Topics: Domestic Violence in Later Life, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Social Services

Supporting Black Caregivers and Older Adults

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights

Published: 2022

Summary:

To celebrate Black History Month and National Caregivers Day (February 18th), NCLER interviewed Dr. Donna Benton of the University of Southern California’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. In this brief video interview, Dr. Benton discusses her work supporting Black caregivers, the importance of caregiving in the Black community, and strategies for advocates who wish to better support their Black older adult clients. She also talks about the need for legal assistance in advance planning and addressing issues involving housing scams in the Black community.

Donna Benton, PhD, is a Research Associate Professor of Gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. She received her graduate training in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology and was a Gero-psychological postdoctoral fellow at USC/Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. Benton is the Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center (FCSC) and the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center (LACRC). She has over 30 years of experience in providing direct service, advocacy and programs for families caring for persons with dementia. She was appointed to the CA Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Commission and the CA Commission on Aging (CCOA). Her research focus is on the development of online evidence-based interventions for family caregivers to improve mental and physical health and wellbeing and prevention of elder mistreatment. She also serves as a mentor to students interested in advocacy for caregivers.

Video

Link: Supporting Black Caregivers and Older Adults

Topics: Caregiving, Diversity/Cultural Competency

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community

NCALL Elder Abuse Investigations Training

Source: National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)

Published: 2022

Summary:

As first responders, law enforcement officers can play a key role in providing an effective response to elder abuse at the local level. These short e-learning modules offer law enforcement officers, investigators, and other first responders an opportunity to access training on elder abuse at any time, from anywhere. You may be working with local partners under an Abuse in Later Life Grant from the Office on Violence Against Women, or you may simply be seeking information about some aspect of handling elder abuse cases. In either case, the information in these modules will enhance your investigative skills, help you work effectively with older victims, and provide you with tools that can help keep victims safe and hold offenders accountable.

Elder Abuse Investigations Supplemental Resources

Elder Abuse Investigations Courses 

Link: NCALL Elder Abuse Investigations Training

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Diversity/Cultural Competency, Financial Abuse, Multidisciplinary Teams, Neglect, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Supporting Victims of Crime

Source: Empowered Aging

Published: 2020

Summary:

Mariam El-menshawi is the Director of McGeorge School of Law, Victims of Crime Resource Center. She is also the Managing Attorney at the VCRC- Legal Center, which provides holistic legal services to victims of crime. Mariam received her joint JD – MBA degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She was drawn to victims’ rights as a law student, where she worked directly with victims and conducted research on victims’ rights. Mariam has dedicated her career to helping victims of crime understand their rights and assisting them in navigating and enforcing their rights in the criminal justice system. She serves on the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) VOCA Steering Committee, CalOES VAWA Steering Committee, U.S. Attorney’s Hate Crime Task Force, Financial Abuse Specialist Team, Older Adults Coalition Multidisciplinary Team, and is the Co-Chair of the Victims of Crime Legal Forum.

Mariam was honored with the “2016 Legal Advocacy Award” by the National Crime Victim Law Institute and the 2019 “Local Hero Award” by SafeQuest Solano

Video Recording

Powerpoint Slides

Link: Supporting Victims of Crime

Topics: Caregiving, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community

Dissecting Elder Financial Exploitation – When it’s Not Just a Civil Matter

Source: Empowered Aging

Published: 2021

Summary:

Retired Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood was a lawyer in England for 13 years. After relocating to San Diego in 1991 he passed the California Bar and joined the DA’s office in 1993. For twenty two years Paul headed up the Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit at the San Diego DA’s Office. In 1999 California Lawyer magazine named Paul as one of their top 20 lawyers of the year in recognition of his pioneering efforts to pursue justice on behalf of senior citizens.

He has prosecuted over 750 felony cases of both physical, sexual, emotional and financial elder abuse. He has also prosecuted ten murder cases, including one death penalty case.

In March 2018 Paul retired from the San Diego DA’s office to concentrate on sharing lessons learned from his elder abuse prosecutions with a wider audience. In October 2018 he was given a lifetime achievement award by his former office.

Paul now spends much of his post retirement time consulting on elder abuse cases and providing trainings to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services agencies across the country and internationally. He is also involved as the criminal justice board member of National Adult Protective Services Association.

Video Recording

Powerpoint Slides

Older Adult Call In Checklist 

Link: Dissecting Elder Financial Exploitation – When it’s Not Just a Civil Matter

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community, Legal/Law Enforcement

Adult Protective Services and Dependent Adults: Sometimes it’s Messy

Source: Empowered Aging

Published: 2021

Summary:

More About Kim Rutledge: Kim Rutledge was appointed Program Liaison for Adult Protective Services (APS) at the California Department of Social Services by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019. Kim’s duties include enhancing statewide policies and procedures to promote consistent statewide APS practices and strengthening and expanding services to meet the needs of vulnerable older and dependent adults, including protecting their well-being during emergency situations. She is the CDSS ex officio representative to the State Independent the department on the CalSWEC Advisory Silence = Violence Network, a stakeholder workgroup created to bring advocates together to increase public awareness around elder and dependent adult abuse. Before coming to APS, Kim served as the Chief of the Policy and Quality Assurance Branch within the CDSS Adult Programs Division for three and a half years, overseeing policies impacting the In-Home Supportive Services program Deaf Access Program. Prior to 2016, she spent four years as the assistant legislative director of UDW/AFSCME Local 3930, a labor union that represents In-Home Supportive Services providers in numerous counties. Prior to her career in social services, Kim spent 12 years working as a professional journalist, including four years as a copy editor at the Sacramento Bee. Kim possesses a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s degree in social welfare from UCLA. More About Chris Alire: Chris Alire has been with the County of San Diego HHSA Adult Protective Services for 21. The last 9 years as Program Manager. She has a Bachelors’ Degree in Social Science and a Master’s in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy. Prior to APS work, she has worked in the field of domestic violence with the military, with the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and Aging and Independence Services Call Center. Ms. Alire is the current chair of the CWDA’s Protective Services Operation Committee. In 2015, the San Diego County APS program won the CSAC top Innovationthe NACo Achievement Award for their work on the APS Acutely Vulnerable Adult Protocol that sought to enhance safety for vulnerable adults who are not able to communicate and are cared for by someone who has risk factors for perpetrating abuse. More About Chris Dubble: Chris Dubble, MSW, is a trainer and social worker. He is currently the Assistant Director for Training at Temple University Harrisburg. He oversees the campus’ professional development training offered through Pennsylvania and the United States in this role. Chris is a frequent workshop and keynote speaker on a wide variety of topics. He is also the Director of the Institute on Protective Services and has worked in training and consultation for adult and older adult protective services for 18 years. During his over 25-year career in social work, Chris has been both in direct practice and management at the Penn State University Hershey Medical Center. As the Director of Social Work at Hershey Medical Center, he served on the hospital’s ethics committee. Chris has also been a full-time and adjunct faculty member at Temple University Harrisburg’s Master of Social Work program. More About Christina Mills: Christina Mills has served as the Executive Director of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) since 2017, and she has over 20 years of disability rights and independent living center services experience. As Executive Director of CFILC, Christina is responsible for seamlessly implementing six statewide programs while also building the capacity of her Independent Living Center members. Earlier this year, Christina launched California’s first cross-disability not-for-profit Disability Disaster Access & Resources (DDAR) program. The DDAR pilot program is a partnership between CFILC and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) that provides people with disabilities services and resources before, during, and after a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). Christina recently served as an appointee of the California Master Plan for Aging (MPA), Stakeholder Advisory Committee that was charged with developing a ten-year plan focused on creating a California for All. Christina is a current council member of the California Utility Access & Functional Needs Advisory Committee, is a Commissioner of the Advisory Commission on Special Education appointed by the Board of Education, a Board Member of Disability Rights Education Defense Fund (DREDF), and co-chair of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), International Committee. In 2019, Christina was honored by the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A) for her commitment to bridging the gap between the disability and older adult communities.

Link: Adult Protective Services and Dependent Adults: Sometimes it’s Messy

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community, Social Services

Elder Health Care Abuse: Fraud and Scam Prevention

Source: Empowered Aging

Published: 2021

Summary:

More About Micki Nozaki: Micki Nozaki is the Director of the California Health Advocates Health Care Fraud Prevention and Education Program known as the Senior Medicare Patrol. The Senior Medicare Patrol is a national, federally-funded program that provides Medicare fraud prevention education and outreach throughout the state to older adults, their families, and caregivers as well as persons with disabilities. Prior to assuming her current role, Micki spent several years in the private sector developing and implementing information protection and privacy programs. Health care fraud is elder abuse and Micki is deeply passionate about protecting older adults and persons with disabilities from being victimized by criminal fraudsters and scammers. She asks that we all do our part to protect those most vulnerable among us.

Video Recording

Powerpoint Slides 

Link: Elder Health Care Abuse: Fraud and Scam Prevention

Topics: Financial Abuse, Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Health Care

The Rise in Violence Against Asian Americans – An Intentional Conversation

Source: Empowered Aging

Published: 2021

Summary:

More About Denny Chan: Directing Attorney for Equity Advocacy, Justice In Aging Denny serves as Justice in Aging’s inaugural Directing Attorney for Equity Advocacy. In this role, he is responsible for developing and leading Justice in Aging’s Strategic Initiative on Advancing Equity, with a primary focus on race equity for older adults of color, and he also coordinates the organization’s equity team. He joined Justice in Aging as an attorney on the health team in 2014 and is based in Los Angeles, CA. The son of working-class Chinese immigrant parents, Denny has worked significantly on non-discrimination, language access, and healthcare delivery reform issues for low-income older adults and brings all of these experiences to his advocacy. He previously served as a rotating law clerk for the US District Court in Los Angeles and participated in the Fulbright English Teaching Program as a fellow in Macau, China. Denny is a member of the California bar and is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine School of Law. He received his BA from the University of Michigan.

More About Edie Yau: Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Alzheimer’s Association Edie Yau is the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Alzheimer’s Association, Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter. She provides leadership and strategic direction in equity and inclusion in the pursuit of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. She is responsible for developing culturally relevant programs to effectively reach underserved communities. She serves on the Executive Council for AARP California and is a member of the Master Plan for Aging Equity Advisory Committee. Ms. Yau has been in the field of aging for over 20 years and has an MA in Gerontology.

Video Recording 

Powerpoint Slides 

Link: The Rise in Violence Against Asian Americans – An Intentional Conversation

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Physical Abuse

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community

Recognizing Residents’ Rights

Source: Empowered Aging

Published: 2021

Summary:

October is Rights Month. An annual event where we come together to recognize the rights, respect, and dignity that all long-term care residents are entitled to. No one understands the importance of Rights better than the family members of those in assisted living. As many of us know, advocating for long-term care residents to help solve problems and ensure they receive quality care is a tough job to navigate. An essential part of Rights Month is spreading awareness and education to empower the residents, the families, and all who serve them.

We are excited to welcome Andrea DuBrow, a social worker and family member of a long-term care resident, as our presenter for this session. Andrea will share her personal experience advocating for a parent in long-term care and what she wishes she would have known. If you’re ready to strengthen your position as a residents’ rights advocate and learn more about how you can help spread awareness, join us!

Video Recording 

Link: Recognizing Residents’ Rights

Topics: Caregiving, Long-term Care, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers

Using Alternatives to Guardianship to Defend Against or Terminate Guardianship

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights

Published: 2021

Summary:

A guardianship should be a last resort, only to be imposed when alternatives fail to fill the needs of the person. Often, petitions for guardianship are filed and adjudicated without exploring alternatives. A winning strategy for the defense against guardianship or for restoration of rights is to develop and present evidence that alternatives meet the needs of the person. This training will explore case scenarios and discuss how evidence of alternatives can be developed and presented in court.

Attendees who are unfamiliar with alternatives to guardianship are encouraged to review our past resources on Overview of Guardianship & Alternatives to Guardianship and Role of Decision Supports in Elder Abuse Prevention and Recovery.

Speaker:
David Godfrey, Senior Attorney, ABA Commission on Law an Aging, Washington, DC.

Link: Using Alternatives to Guardianship to Defend Against or Terminate Guardianship

Topics: Caregiving, Cognition/Capacity, Guardianship/Conservatorship

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Social Services

Combating Physical Elder Abuse

Source: Empowered Aging

Published: 2022

Summary:

Laura Mosqueda, MD, FAAFP, AGSF, is a professor (with tenure) of Family Medicine and Geriatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She is a widely respected authority on elder abuse and care of the elderly and underserved. She is also an expert on medical education curriculum design, development, and implementation. Since joining the Keck School of Medicine of USC, her roles have included: Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, Associate Dean of Primary Care, and Dean. In addition, she is the principal investigator of an NIA-funded R01 study to understand the causes of the abuse of people with dementia and is the Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse. This federally-funded initiative serves as the nation’s coordinating body and clearinghouse for information on research, training, best practices, news, and resources. Dr. Mosqueda is also a fellow in the Health and Aging Policy Fellowship Program. As a clinician, researcher, educator, and academic administrator, she has a unique perspective that is informed by her extensive experiences in the community, including her role as a volunteer long-term care ombudsman.

Webinar Video

Link: Combating Physical Elder Abuse

Topics: Domestic Violence in Later Life, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Health Care

Prevention in Action: Investing in Healthy Families and Communities

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2021

Summary:

How can we stop violence before it happens? This webinar explores new possibilities in prevention, drawing on lessons learned from CDC’s DELTA FOCUS programs for preventing intimate partner violence across the country. The presenter offers opportunities to integrate community-level prevention approaches into daily practice and demonstrate the impact of this investment in creating a more equitable world. Participants will learn ways to cultivate meaningful relationships with multidisciplinary community partners to bring us closer to our shared horizon.

NOTE: This webinar contains videos not recorded during the live event. You may view those videos with the following links: Moving Forward (Centers for Disease Control) | When I am an Elder (Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault) | Benefit of Therapeutic Horticulture on Women Who’ve Experienced Violence (University of Kentucky)

Video: Recording

Link: Prevention in Action: Investing in Healthy Families and Communities

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Social Services

Advancing Equity for Older Adults

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Abuse

Published: 2021

Summary:

Part 1: An Introduction to Advancing Equity in Legal and Aging Services

Low-income older adults face a number of challenges grounded in structural racism & other forms of discrimination. As a way to help address those challenges, the Older Americans Act emphasizes that limited program & service resources should be targeted to older adults with the greatest economic or social need. The factors that cause social need include language barriers & isolation caused by racial or ethnic status. Therefore, advancing equity is an important goal in the delivery of aging & legal services to older adults. This inaugural webinar series is focused on how aging & legal services professionals can better advance equity for older adults in their own work. This webinar will:
• Provide an overview of why equity is important for older adults with economic & social need;
• Review different strategies and opportunities to advance equity in legal & aging services; and
• Highlight a local program’s journey to centering equity in its work with older adults.
Presenters:
• Denny Chan, Directing Attorney for Equity Advocacy, Justice in Aging
• Kimberly Jones Merchant, Director of the Racial Justice Institute and Network, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
• Kevin Prindiville, Executive Director, Justice in Aging
• Pamela Walz, Supervising Attorney of the Health and Independence Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

 

Part 2: Putting Strategies into Practice

This is a follow up to the first webinar, Advancing Equity for Older Adults, Part 1: An Introduction to Advancing Equity in Legal and Aging Services, presented on October 28th. It is not necessary to have attended the first training, but attendees are encouraged to watch the recording for an introduction to equity and racial justice for older adults.

This webinar will apply principles and strategies to effectively advance equity in legal and aging services. Presenters from legal assistance and elder rights programs will describe the steps they have taken to center equity, with a focus on race equity, in their work, as well as lessons learned and promising practices for staffing, process, and evaluation.

Attendees will receive actionable steps they can take and will learn about tools that advocates can incorporate in their own work to advance equity for older adults and serve those with the greatest social and economic need. Panelists will share their experience and will be available to answer questions from the audience.

Presenters:
-Denny Chan, Directing Attorney for Equity Advocacy, Justice in Aging
-Archie Roundtree, Equal Justice Works Fellow – Elder Justice Program, Bet Tzedek
-Kee Tobar, Director of Race, Equity, and Inclusion, Community Legal Services of Philidelphia

Link: Advancing Equity for Older Adults

Topics: Legal, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

How does elder abuse impact Latinx communities?

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2021

Summary:

Synopsis: Elder Abuse is a serious public health and human rights issue that erodes everyone’s ability to age with dignity and respect. Research suggests that culture can be both a risk and protective factor associated with elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Culture affects how people perceive and define elder abuse and can create a number of linguistic, cultural, social, and institutional barriers in reporting abuse or seeking help.  This also impacts how professionals and authorities engage people in need of assistance. ​

 Join the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) in discussing the importance of cultural competence to build sturdy interventions, support services, and prevention resources within the Latinx community, the largest ethic minority in the United States. Learn more from this training about multicultural perspectives on abuse, neglect, and exploitation, risk factors, research-informed best practices, and recommendations for professionals who wish to better serve this population.

 

 

Link: How does elder abuse impact Latinx communities?

Topics: Overview/General

Access: Download, Web-based (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Community

Child Adversities, Midlife Health, and Elder Abuse: Application of Cumulative Disadvantage Theory to Understand Late Life Victimization

Source: Evident Change

Published: 2021

Summary:

Elder abuse victimization is increasingly recognized as a pressing public health concern. However, few empirical studies have investigated whether childhood adversities and poor physical and psychological health in midlife heighten risks for abuse in late life. The webinar will review prior literature on the topic; describe the methodological approach within a new study by the presenters; highlight major findings; and discuss implications for clinical practice, treatment, and future research on elder abuse. (Materials: slide presentation)

Presenters:

Scott Easton, PhD, is associate professor, chair of the Mental Health Department, and co-director of the Trauma Integration Initiative at the Boston College School of Social Work. His primary program of research investigates long-term health outcomes of adults who experienced early life-course trauma such as child sexual abuse.

Jooyoung Kong, PhD, focuses her research on the effects that childhood adverse experiences have on later-life health and well-being. Guided by the life-course perspective, she is interested in identifying risk factors that prolong the negative impact of childhood adversity on physical, psychological, and social health in adulthood and identifying resilience factors that can mitigate these harmful effects.

Link: Child Adversities, Midlife Health, and Elder Abuse: Application of Cumulative Disadvantage Theory to Understand Late Life Victimization

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Health Care, Social Services

How to Motivate Aging Adults to Make a Money Management Plan

Source: Legal Assistance for Seniors

Published: 2021

Summary:

Presenters: Marti DeLiema, PhD – Assistant Research Professor, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Naomi Karp, Esq.

Millions of aging Americans are challenged to prepare for uncertain health and financial setbacks in addition to cognitive impairment that impacts one-third of adults over age 85. Advanced planning can reduce the negative impact of impairment on personal finances, including financial exploitation, scams and fraud, and care and spending decisions that are not aligned with retirement goals.

One of the smartest ways to prepare for changes in financial decision-making capacity is to talk with a trusted friend or family member about financial needs and wishes for the future, and to appoint a power of attorney in the event that oversight and support is needed. To motivate and guide aging adults to begin this important planning process and start meaningful conversations about money and future care, we developed the Thinking Ahead Roadmap. The content and design was informed by two years of research conducted at the University of Minnesota.

 

Marti DeLiema, PhD is an interdisciplinary gerontologist and Assistant Research Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, Professor DeLiema studies retirement security and financial victimization using focus groups, in-depth interviews, surveys and panel data. Her research is funded by the National Institute of Justice, the National Institute on Aging, the Social Security Administration, the Society of Actuaries, AARP, and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. Prior to joining the School of Social Work, Dr. DeLiema was a Research Scholar at the Stanford Center on Longevity. She graduated with her doctorate from USC School of Gerontology where she conducted research on elder abuse and neglect in minoritized communities, evaluated outcomes of a multidisciplinary team’s response to elder abuse, and analyzed the tactics scam artists use to deceive older adults.

 

Naomi Karp is a consultant on aging, law, and policy for educational, governmental and non-profit clients. She is a lawyer and policy expert who has worked on aging issues for over 35 years. Her areas of focus include elder financial exploitation, guardianship, health and financial decision-making, the impact of cognitive changes, and family caregiving. Ms. Karp is the co-author of the “Thinking Ahead Roadmap”, a guide and web-based tool to help people keep their money safe as they age. Until October 2019, Karp was Senior Policy Analyst at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office for Older Americans where she helped set the Office’s priorities when the agency opened in 2011. At the Bureau, Karp was the team lead for the Managing Someone Else’s Money guides for financial caregivers. Ms. Karp began her career as a legal services attorney for low-income and older clients and received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law and her BA from the University of Michigan.

Download Webinar 2 Handouts

Thinking Ahead Roadmap-Presentation
Thinking Ahead Roadmap-Guide

Thinking Ahead Roadmap Website

Link: How to Motivate Aging Adults to Make a Money Management Plan

Topics: Caregiving, Financial Abuse, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Finance

​Stop the Bleeding – Temporarily Freezing Assets in Elder Abuse Cases

Source: California Elder Justice Coalition

Published: 2021

Summary:

​Learn how law enforcement, in collaboration with public guardians, can protect older and dependent adults against exploitation during complex criminal investigations. The presenters will describe cases in which they used California Probate Code §2952 to reduce the financial exploitation of older adults who are cognitively impaired by: 

  • Freezing older victims’ assets, including homes and other property;
  • Minimizing the extent of monetary losses; and 
  • Facilitating timelier interventions. 

The presenters will also describe the EDAPT model, which allows elder justice stakeholders to collaborate successfully.

Facilitator:
Debbie Deem, FAST Coordinator Ventura County, Retired FBI Victim Specialist

Presenters:
Tara Heumann, San Mateo County Deputy County Counsel
Andrea Higgens, San Mateo County District Attorney Inspector

Webinar recording​
Webinar Materials:

Link: ​Stop the Bleeding – Temporarily Freezing Assets in Elder Abuse Cases

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Mandatory Reporting

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

When Your Loved One is Labeled as a “Bad Fit:” How to Advocate for the Quality Care They Deserve

Source: Consumer Voice and NORC

Published: 2021

Summary:

Consumer Voice and NORC have produced a series of outstanding and informative podcasts providing guidance to residents and families through the pandemic.

When facilities tell residents and their families that they are “not a good fit” or encourage antipsychotic medications, often families feel pressured and aren’t sure how to advocate for their loved ones. In this conversation, we first hear from Kathy, a family member who went through this experience with her mother. We then speak with Tony Chicotel from California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR), about steps family members can take, the specific rights nursing home residents have, and how families can work with facilities to ensure their loved one receives quality long-term care.

Podcast Audio

 

Link: When Your Loved One is Labeled as a “Bad Fit:” How to Advocate for the Quality Care They Deserve

Topics: Caregiving, Preparedness and Response, Prevention/Intervention

Access:

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers

Resuming In-Person Ombudsman Visits During COVID-19: Tips for Identifying Trauma, Potential Abuse, and Supporting Residents

Source: Consumer Voice and NORC

Published: 2021

Summary:

Consumer Voice and NORC have produced a series of outstanding and informative podcasts providing guidance to residents and families through the pandemic.

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), this webinar from the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) discussed how to identify and respond to signs of trauma and potential abuse or neglect and support residents as Ombudsman programs resume in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a national and international expert on elder abuse and neglect, provided tips for Ombudsman programs conducting in-person visits, such as signs of trauma in response to isolation and loss during the pandemic and potential signs of abuse and neglect. She also shared recommendations for supporting residents and available resources. As an accomplished physician and researcher, Dr. Mosqueda has testified in front of Congress and has been invited to the White House several times to discuss elder justice initiatives. She has taken the lead on landmark studies to identify forensic markers of abuse and neglect and serves as a volunteer representative for the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.

Attendees also heard from two Ombudsman program representatives as they shared their experience resuming in-person visits and highlighted what they observed upon reentry, how they supported residents, tips for visits, lessons learned, and successful practices.

Podcast Audio

Link: Resuming In-Person Ombudsman Visits During COVID-19: Tips for Identifying Trauma, Potential Abuse, and Supporting Residents

Topics: Caregiving, Overview/General, Preparedness and Response, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Health Care, Social Services

The Care of Individuals with Dementia

Source: Consumer Voice and NORC

Published: 2021

Summary:

Consumer Voice and NORC have produced a series of outstanding and informative podcasts providing guidance to residents and families through the pandemic.

When the needs of residents living with dementia are met, incidences of resident stress are significantly reduced. Practicing person-centered approaches and interventions increase the likelihood that the message being communicated by the resident will be heard and addressed, leading to better outcomes and more satisfaction for the individual. Join our conversation with Dr. Jonathan Evans as we talk about caring for human beings with dementia.

Podcast Audio 

 

Link: The Care of Individuals with Dementia

Topics: Caregiving, Cognition/Capacity, Long-term Care, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Health Care

Role of Decision Supports in Elder Abuse Prevention and Recovery

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Abuse

Published: 2021

Summary:

Decision supports maximize independence and self-determination and empower older adults to use trusted supports, selected by the person, to provide help in making informed choices. Older adults who experience abuse or exploitation may lose existing supports and supporters and require new or enhanced supports in place. Many older adults need assistance identifying which types of decision supports are needed and how to choose supporters and develop a trustworthy support network. Oversight and accountability should be planned to identify abuse or exploitation so that interventions can happen if needed.

This webcast will explore strategies for determining decision supports for individuals who have experienced abuse, do not have easily identifiable persons to serve as supports, and/or need assistance with building and maintaining a support network.

After attending this training, attendees will be able to:

Identify person-centered decision supports that maximize self-determination;
Describe ways to provide assistance identifying supporters and create and maintain a support network; and
List two or more tools to use to create oversight and accountability.

Presenters:
• David Godfrey
• Elizabeth Moran, ABA Commission on Law and Aging

Link: Role of Decision Supports in Elder Abuse Prevention and Recovery

Topics: Legal, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Elder Abuse in People Living with Dementia: Prevention, Detection & Intervention

Source: National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center

Published: 2021

Summary:

Elder mistreatment is a common phenomenon in our society, particularly among older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia. Yet there is hope. Using practical clinical and legal tools, we can look for high risk situations and prevent abuse, and we can detect abuse at early stages to stop it from getting worse. In this seminar, conducted by a physician and lawyer with years of practical experience in the field, we will discuss indicators that should raise concern, provide practical tips on when and how to intervene, and pay particular attention to the complicated issue of capacity. Presenters: Laura Mosqueda, MD is the Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse and Charles P. Sabatino, JD, is the Director of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Law and Aging.

Video Recording 

Slides

Link: Elder Abuse in People Living with Dementia: Prevention, Detection & Intervention

Topics: Caregiving, Cognition/Capacity, Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement

Self-Neglect Among Older Adults: Is it a “Lifestyle” Choice?

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2021

Summary:

Self-neglect among older adults is a rapidly growing public health and global issue, and is the most problematic in the elder abuse and neglect literature. Data suggests that self-neglect contributes to diminished quality of life and is associated with high mortality rates, however, research on the perspectives of older adults who have been identified as self-neglecting has not received the attention it deserves. Understanding the perspectives of older adults who self-neglect has never been as critical as it today. Studies estimate that the prevalence of self-neglect is expected to rise with the increase in the growth of the elderly population. Therefore, it is reasonable to ask, how could we better serve older adults who engage in self-neglecting behaviors if we lack adequate understanding of their lived experiences?

Link: Self-Neglect Among Older Adults: Is it a “Lifestyle” Choice?

Topics: Neglect, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment, Self-neglect

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Social Services

Elder Abuse and Its Consequences: Findings from Waves I and II of the National Elder Mistreatment Study

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2021

Summary:

This presentation will discuss, in broad strokes, findings from Wave I of the NEMS, which centered on answering the questions “how often” and “with what risk factors;” as well as findings from Wave II eight years later, which focused on the questions “what are the consequences” and “for whom.” Specifically, the prevalence of different types of elder mistreatment and risk factors for each type will be discussed in the context of outcomes of abuse and protective factors. This discussion should illustrate some steps communities and community based workers can take to both prevent elder abuse, and if elder abuse occurs, prevent or at least limit its negative consequences.

Link: Elder Abuse and Its Consequences: Findings from Waves I and II of the National Elder Mistreatment Study

Topics: Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Social Services

Accountability and Rebuilding- A Panel Discussion on Restorative Responses to Elder Abuse

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2021

Summary:

The victim’s refusal to cooperate and other evidentiary challenges may pose a significant barrier to investigating and prosecuting elder abuse. In other instances, family members – particularly parents – who have participated in prosecution may seek to repair relationships damaged by the abuse, the legal process, or both. Might restorative practices such as mediation and peacemaking be utilized to hold a wrongdoer accountable to and rebuild relationships with the victim, family, and community in such cases? In what circumstances might these approaches provide an appropriate complement to law enforcement?

Panelists representing prosecution, victim services, peacemaking, and mediation will provide a concise foundation for this interactive discussion of the potential benefits, drawbacks, and limitations of using restorative practices to address elder abuse.

Link: Accountability and Rebuilding- A Panel Discussion on Restorative Responses to Elder Abuse

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community, Social Services

Virtual Prosecutors’ Training

Source: National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)

Published: 2021

Summary:

The National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL), under a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, is pleased to announce a biweekly series of eleven virtual training opportunities for prosecutors, to begin on July 13, 2021. 

Elder abuse is a pervasive yet vastly underreported problem. With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the population is aging, and the incidence of elder abuse can be expected to rise as well. The purpose of this series is to educate prosecutors so they are equipped to make well-informed prosecutorial decisions in elder physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases in order to hold perpetrators accountable, promote public safety, and address victims’ needs.  

The series will be taught by nationally recognized experts in the field and is grouped into three general topic areas. There is no charge for the series, and participants may attend all sessions or only the ones they are available for. All sessions are one hour in length. 

Verification of attendance will be provided to attendees who wish to seek CLE credits for these trainings. All sessions will be recorded and made available on the NCALL website. 

While this series is designed for prosecutors, the July and August webinars will also be open to allied professionals (such as victim advocates, investigators, court staff, and law enforcement) as space permits. The remaining webinars are for prosecutors only. 

To access the webinars, please fill up the form here.

If you have questions about this webinar series, please contact Ann Laatsch, Justice System Coordinator, at alaatsch@ncall.us. 

Link: Virtual Prosecutors’ Training

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Neglect

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

The Role of the Criminal Justice System in Addressing Elder Abuse Perpetrators

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2021

Summary:

APS programs work closely with the criminal justice system. While both systems seek protection of victims of abuse from perpetrators, they have different roles, resources, and approaches to meeting the goal. This workshop reviewed research and current data to explore how the two systems can work together.

Video

Link: The Role of the Criminal Justice System in Addressing Elder Abuse Perpetrators

Topics: Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use:

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Interviewing Alleged Perpetrators: The Why, The When, and The How

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

Published: 2021

Summary:

APS professionals and others who conduct investigations may be required to attempt to interview alleged perpetrators. Where abuse has occurred, the interview can provide insights into whether a perpetrator can safely continue to assist or have contact with a client/victim, may benefit from social services or counseling, and is willing to redress past wrongs. The information gathered during the interview may establish that a situation is less serious than originally believed or doesn’t involve culpable conduct. Effective interviewing does not come naturally to many interviewers. And while some skills used when interviewing clients may be similar, it is helpful to understand where there are differences in goals, approaches and questions. In this webinar, presenters will provide an overview of ways to improve the productiveness of A/P interviews. A tip sheet tool, which can be used in APS practice, will be introduced and additional related training options will be provided.

Link: Interviewing Alleged Perpetrators: The Why, The When, and The How

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Preventing and Reducing Violence Against Older Adults

Source: Center for Victim Research

Published: 2021

Summary:

Despite the prevalence of elder abuse, there has been relatively little progress in identifying proven strategies to prevent or end abuse among older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide an overview of elder abuse and present findings from a recent systematic review of reviews related to interventions.

Presenters:

Khiya Marshall Mullins, Dr.PH, MPH is a Behavioral Scientist in the Research and Evaluation Branch, Division of Violence Prevention at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Injury Center. Since 2009, she has worked on the prevention of HIV and AIDS and violence. This includes identifying evidence-based HIV interventions and best practices and co-leading CDC’s Youth Violence Prevention Centers.

Jeffrey H. Herbst, Ph.D. is the Chief of the Research and Evaluation Branch, Division of Violence Prevention at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Injury Center. He has over 30 years of research and public health experience. In 2014, Dr. Herbst accepted the position of Branch Chief with the Division of Violence Prevention at CDC. He oversees a portfolio of research and evaluation studies to prevent multiple forms of violence in the United States.

Joy Swanson Ernst, PhD is an Associate Professor of Social Work, joined the Wayne State faculty in August 2016. From August 2016-2019, she served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Before that, she was Professor of Social Work and director of the undergraduate social work program at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. She received her PhD in 1999 from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Her dissertation, “The Neighborhood Correlates of Child Abuse and Neglect,” won the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children in 2000. While at the University of Maryland, she was the research director for the Family Connections program. She has had social work positions in agencies that serve families and children and runaway and homeless youth.

View the Webinar

Learn More

Link: Preventing and Reducing Violence Against Older Adults

Topics: Domestic Violence in Later Life, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use:

Audience: Advocates, Community

Using AI to Predict Adult Maltreatment

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2021

Summary:

APS agencies are collecting and reporting more and more data on adult maltreatment, yet very little research has been done to date to explore how this data could inform predictive risk factors associated with maltreatment. This webinar describes the purpose and results of an ACL-funded research project to assess opportunities for using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other “big data” tools to identify individuals who are at increased risk for abuse, neglect, and exploitation. In particular, the results of a literature review on risk and protective factors will be shared; a scan of how related fields (e.g., child welfare, healthcare, and criminal justice) use machine learning and predictive analytics; the methodology and results of the machine learning predictive analytic approach to identify locations with a high incidence of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The webinar concludes with implications for research, policy, and practice as they relate to the the long- and short-term goals of early identification and prevention of adult maltreatment.

Video Recording

Link: Using AI to Predict Adult Maltreatment

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Social Services

An Introduction to the Adult Maltreatment Screening and Assessment Tools Inventory

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2021

Summary:

This webinar oriented participants to the Adult Maltreatment Screening and Assessment Tools Inventory (Tools Inventory). The webinar reviewed the process for developing the Tools Inventory, including how tools were rated for their evidence base; described how it is organized and what information it contains; and explored which tools are included and how to used it to find a tool.

Video Recording

Link: An Introduction to the Adult Maltreatment Screening and Assessment Tools Inventory

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community, Health Care, Social Services

Resuming In-Person Visits During COVID-19

Source: Ombudsman Resource Center

Published: 2021

Summary:

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) this webinar discusses how to identify and respond to signs of trauma and potential abuse or neglect and support residents as Ombudsman programs resume in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a national and international expert on elder abuse and neglect, provided tips for Ombudsman programs conducting in-person visits, such as signs of trauma in response to isolation and loss during the pandemic and potential signs of abuse and neglect. She also shared recommendations for supporting residents and available resources. As an accomplished physician and researcher, Dr. Mosqueda has testified in front of Congress and has been invited to the White House several times to discuss elder justice initiatives. She has taken the lead on landmark studies to identify forensic markers of abuse and neglect and serves as a volunteer representative for the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.

Attendees also heard from two Ombudsman program representatives as they shared their experience resuming in-person visits and highlighted what they observed upon reentry, how they supported residents, tips for visits, lessons learned, and successful practices.

Link: Resuming In-Person Visits During COVID-19

Topics: Physical Abuse, Preparedness and Response, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Health Care, Social Services

Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation

Source: The Center for Elder Law and Justice

Published: 2020

Summary:

Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation
Attorney Gabrielle Markle & Social Worker Amanda Chase on Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation of Older Adults.
Video
Senior Financial Safety Tool

The Senior Financial Safety Tool is a web-based application designed to identify and flag potential risks of financial exploitation and connect you with free legal assistance and resources.

Download the flyer here.

Download the training plan here.

See all of the online training videos here.

Link: Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Multidisciplinary Teams

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community, Finance, Legal/Law Enforcement

Senior Financial Safety Tool

Source: The Center for Elder Law and Justice

Published: 2020

Summary:

The Senior Financial Safety Tool is a web-based application designed to identify and flag potential risks of financial exploitation and connect you with free legal assistance and resources.

Download the flyer here.

Download the training plan here.

See all of the online training videos here.

Link: Senior Financial Safety Tool

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Finance, Legal/Law Enforcement

Mental Health in APS Practice eLearning

Source: Academy for Professional Excellence

Published: 2021

Summary:

eLearning for Core Curriculum Module 6

2 hours (2 CEs)

This course is designed to provide APS professionals with an introduction to terms and behaviors used to identify mental health issues they may encounter when working with older adults. The course includes information on the five broad categories of mental disorders, diseases that affect the brain, and suicide risk assessment and intervention. Participants will have an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned to a series of case studies.

Registering for eLearning 
See Course Registration for details.

Link: Mental Health in APS Practice eLearning

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Enhancing Your Investigative Skills: Interviewing Alleged Perpetrators Multi-Module VIRTUAL Training

Source: Academy for Professional Excellence

Published: 2021

Summary:

Course Description
Interviewing alleged perpetrators is a key part of conducting an APS investigation. However, for many reasons, APS professionals may not conduct them as often as other types of interviews. This training is designed to advance the ability of APS professionals to effectively interview alleged perpetrators and provides multiple opportunities for participants to practice those skills in a virtual training environment.

This is a multi-module virtual training composed of three modules, including individual practice. Participants will first complete Module 1 in the virtual classroom, then, Module 2: Individual Practice, on their own, and finally Module 3 in the virtual classroom. Each module is full of interaction, opportunities for critical thinking, and skill building.

Course Materials
Executive Summary
PowerPoint
Trainer Manual
Participant Manual
Interviewing Alleged Perpetrator Tip Sheet
Interviewing Alleged Perpetrators Quick Reference

SCORM
Module 2 SCORM file for LMS

Link: Enhancing Your Investigative Skills: Interviewing Alleged Perpetrators Multi-Module VIRTUAL Training

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Trauma Informed Lawyering—Effects of Secondary Trauma on Attorneys and Advocates

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Abuse

Published: 2020

Summary:

A trauma-informed legal practice aims to reduce re-traumatization and recognize the role trauma plays in the lawyer-client relationship. Legal services attorneys and advocates working with clients who have experienced trauma can also suffer from secondary trauma symptoms that can impact their practice. This webinar will explore the impact and symptoms of secondary trauma experienced by attorneys and advocates and will offer strategies that legal services programs can implement to prevent and mitigate the impacts of secondary trauma.

This training will share:
• An overview of trauma-informed lawyering and secondary trauma;
• How secondary trauma impacts service delivery; and
• Practices to make your organization more supportive to those experiencing secondary trauma

Presenter: Vivianne Mbaku, Senior Staff Attorney, Justice in Aging

Video Recording 

 

Link: Trauma Informed Lawyering—Effects of Secondary Trauma on Attorneys and Advocates

Topics: Legal, Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Legal/Law Enforcement

Medications And Elder Abuse

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2020

Summary:

As we age physiologically, we change, and are more vulnerable to the side effects of medications. Medications are powerful and can be used as a tool of control. Learn more from the clinical perspective on how the misuse of medications and systemic factors can be contributors to risk of elder abuse, in addition to the prevention and intervention framework to help us all prevent elder abuse.

Link: Medications And Elder Abuse

Topics: Substance Use Disorder

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Health Care

Elder Abuse and Opioid Misuse

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2020

Summary:

Concerns encompassing opioid misuse continue to increase, and with little information available, attention has turned to more preventative measures for the at-risk older adult population. In this podcast, Julie Schoen, JD, and Dr. Kaloostian discuss elder abuse, its red flags, and its linkage to substance abuse. Tune in as they take a deep dive on extrinsic factors at play, knowledge from the front lines, and best practices for health care professionals and family members.

Link: Elder Abuse and Opioid Misuse

Topics: Prevention/Intervention, Substance Use Disorder

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Health Care

Pain Management and Elder Abuse

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2020

Summary:

Chronic pain can be difficult to manage, which can lead to opioid abuse and forms of elder abuse occurring simultaneously.  In this episode, Eden Ruiz-Lopez interviews Dr. Tatyana Gurvich for a discussion on pain management and the exploration of pain alternatives. Get an understanding from a pharmacist’s perspective that no patient is the same, and that medications may have different effects on each person. Included in this discussion is when pain management can cross the lines into abuse, as well as common red flags to look out for. Factors such as polypharmacy and access to over-the-counter medications may all play a part in opioid abuse. Listen in for tips on pain alternatives and how to reduce opioid use and misuse.

Link: Pain Management and Elder Abuse

Topics: Prevention/Intervention, Substance Use Disorder

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Health Care

Fighting for Dignity: A Film on Injurious and Fatal Resident-to-Resident Incidents in Long-Term Care Homes

Source: Terra Nova Films

Published: 2020

Summary:

A large number of injurious resident-to-resident incidents in long-term care settings are not recognized, reported, nor prevented. Through the graphic and deeply painful experiences of three families whose vulnerable loved ones were either physically or sexually harmed, this powerful 20-minute film encourages care providers to improve care practices that would help prevent such episodes.

As it sheds light on the under-studied and under-recognized phenomenon of injurious and deadly resident-to-resident incidents, the film also emphasizes the need to understand that behavioral expressions labelled as “aggressive” in the context of dementia, typically occur when the “fighting” resident’s own emotional and physical needs are not being met.

Link: Fighting for Dignity: A Film on Injurious and Fatal Resident-to-Resident Incidents in Long-Term Care Homes

Topics: Caregiving, Long-term Care, Physical Abuse

Access: Order (Fee), Web-based (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community

Elder Abuse: Five Case Studies

Source: Terra Nova Films

Published: unknown

Summary:

This video explores the issues of family abuse against an older adult very personally from the point of view of five different victims. Their candor in telling about their situation gives the viewer insight into the ambivalent feeling of older abuse victims as they try to find resolution to their pain. In the context of their struggle we also see the various interventions that can be used to help stop the abuse, including counseling, shelters, supportive services and legal action.

Link: Elder Abuse: Five Case Studies

Topics: Overview/General

Access: Order (Fee), Web-based (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community

Just to Have a Peaceful Life

Source: Terra Nova Films

Published: unknown

Summary:

This video profiles a woman who was married to an abusive husband for 45 years. She had five children who were also routinely abused by the husband. She left her husband three times when the children were small only to return because of financial need. She kept hoping he would mellow as he got older, but finally left him again at age 61 only to soon return again because of health problems. She died at age 63 without ever achieving the peaceful life she longed for.

Link: Just to Have a Peaceful Life

Topics: Domestic Violence in Later Life

Access: Order (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community

I’d Rather Be Home

Source: Terra Nova Films

Published: unknown

Summary:

This video follows, over a period of seven years, the case of Norman, an older man repeatedly abused by one of his adult sons. The son lives at home (along with Norman’s wife and other adult son). Since Norman is unwilling to take legal action, the situation seesaws for years with Norman leaving home for short periods of time and then returning, hoping his son will change. Eventually, after a severe beating, Norman ends up in a nursing home, has a mild stroke and is placed under state guardianship.

Link: I’d Rather Be Home

Topics: Caregiving, Cognition/Capacity, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Long-term Care, Physical Abuse

Access: Order (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Social Services

Will Power

Source: Terra Nova Films

Published: 2018

Summary:

Will Power uses the filmmaker’s personal experiences in saving his ancestral land to provide a powerful framework for action to prepare siblings and their parents for the emotional, financial, and legal challenges that age and death can bring on.  It is usually difficult for families to gather and discuss issues related to elder care, estates, and finances, and Will Power provides an entertaining platform to spark much-needed discussions on these too often avoided topics.  It is not only a “how to” guide, but more importantly, a “why to” guide that offers the tools and information needed to navigate and complete proper legal planning for seniors. Topics include: fiduciary responsibility, trusts vs. wills, power of attorney, health care proxy, living wills, sibling rivalry, and value and heritage of land.

Link: Will Power

Topics: Caregiving, Cognition/Capacity, Legal, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Order (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Legal/Law Enforcement

Money Matters: Help for Caregivers Who Handle Other People’s Finances

Source: Lichtenberg Older Adult Nest Egg

Published: 2020

Summary:

Free Online Learning

Learn the warning signs of early cognitive impairment, how to hold difficult discussions, the clues to detecting financial mismanagement and the basics of managing another person’s money.

 

Detecting Early Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

20 MINUTES

Changes in thinking skills may be an early sign of dementia. Learn to spot the first symptoms and get help.

 

Holding Difficult Conversations

20 MINUTES

Compassionate techniques for good communication even when the subject elicits strong emotion.

 

Detecting Financial Mismanagement

20 MINUTES

How do you know if your loved one is being exploited? Uncover the signs and put protections in place.

 

Managing Someone Else’s Money

20 MINUTES

Many older adults have a diminished capacity to handle finances and need help from a family member or trusted friend. Learn how to do it.

 

View all of our Online Learning Segments

 

Link: Money Matters: Help for Caregivers Who Handle Other People’s Finances

Topics: Caregiving, Financial Abuse, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Finance, Social Services

An Intersectional and Multi-Disciplinary Look at Elder Mistreatment and the African American Community: Sharing New Resources and Strategies for Impact

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2020

Summary:

This webinar will explore the mistreatment of African American elders in the United States and the relationship between structural racism and ongoing inequities on elders. Presenters will discuss available legal supports, services, and resources to prevent and mitigate elder mistreatment within the African American community.

Speakers:

Donna Benton, PhD
Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center
Read more: https://gero.usc.edu/faculty/donna-benton-ph-d/

Juanita Davis, JD
Associate Director of the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)
Read more: https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/ncall/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/18112411/Bio_JD_2019.pdf

Katie Block, MSW, MPH
Project Coordinator of the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)
Read more: https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/ncall/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/18112309/Bio_KB_2019.pdf

Vivianne Mbaku, JD
Senior staff attorney of Justice in Aging
Read more: https://justiceinaging.org/about-us/current-staff/

Video

PowerPoint Slide

Link: An Intersectional and Multi-Disciplinary Look at Elder Mistreatment and the African American Community: Sharing New Resources and Strategies for Impact

Topics: Legal, Multidisciplinary Teams

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Community, Legal/Law Enforcement

Abuse Prevention and Intervention in Long-Term Care

Source: Ombudsman Services

Published: 2020

Summary:

Lori Smetanka is the Executive Director of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, the leading national nonprofit advocacy organization representing consumers receiving long-term care and services in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home and community based settings.  As Executive Director, Lori oversees and contributes to the organization’s policy, advocacy, and program activities; leads the organization’s fundraising efforts; establishes strategic partnerships with organizations and federal agencies working on issues related to the provision of long-term services and supports; and establishes the strategic direction of the organization.

From 2004 – 2016 she served as the Director of the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, providing technical assistance, training, and support to the 53 State and more than 570 local long-term care ombudsman programs across the country.  Prior to that role, Lori served as Law and Policy Specialist at the Consumer Voice, where she provided policy analysis, consultation, education, technical assistance, and training on long-term care issues.   She received a B.A. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law.

Joe Rodrigues has been the California State Long-Term Care Ombudsman since August 2002.  As the independent State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, appointed by the Governor, Mr. Rodrigues oversees 35 local Ombudsman programs, with approximately 725 certified Ombudsman representatives who have a regular presence in approximately 1,230 skilled nursing facilities and 7,300 residential care facilities for the elderly. Ombudsman representatives work to resolve individual problems of residents and address systemic issues as well.

Prior to his appointment as State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Mr. Rodrigues was the Assistant Director of the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging where he was responsible for needs assessments, planning, and the delivery of Older Americans Act and Older Californians Act home and community-based services to keep older persons independent and in their own homes.

Before working for the County of Alameda, Rodrigues was the Executive Director of St. Peter’s Community Adult Day Care Center, the first licensed Adult Day Support Center in the county.  Adult Day Programs help older persons and persons with disabilities with the activities of daily living while providing respite to family caregivers.

After serving two consecutive terms, Rodrigues is a Past President of the National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs where he led the Association’s work with Congress to reauthorize and modernize the Ombudsman provisions of the Older Americans Act.  Rodrigues has been on the faculty of Holy Family College in Fremont, the California State University, Hayward, and for 11 years, the California State University, Sacramento where he taught several courses in the Gerontology Department.  He is a member of the American Society on Aging and Sigma Phi Omega, the national academic honor and professional society in gerontology.  Rodrigues chaired the Leadership Council of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care and is the past Vice President of the California Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics.

Rodrigues earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from St. Patrick’s College in Mountain View, California and a Master of Divinity degree from their graduate school in Menlo Park, California.  He also holds a Lifetime Instructor Credential from the California Community College system.

Video

Slides 

Link: Abuse Prevention and Intervention in Long-Term Care

Topics: Long-term Care, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community, Social Services

Engaging Challenging Clients and Crisis Communication

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2020

Summary:

This webinar will address engaging clients within the context of a therapeutic relationship, how to engage challenging clients, crisis management, and present the LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner) approach to engagement. Join California Licensed Clinical Social Worker Heather Sylvester of the Riverside University Health System in learning promising practices for approaching challenging clients via instruction and case scenarios. NOTE: A video originally shown during this webinar has been omitted from the recording due to copyright issues. That video is located here.

Link: Engaging Challenging Clients and Crisis Communication

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

APS Education and Training Toolkit

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2020

Summary:

A compendium of APS educational materials, videos, and other resources are essential to help APS administrators and supervisors stay abreast of offerings, supplement trainings made available by their state programs, and to promote continuous learning opportunities for APS staff.  The Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State APS Systems recommends that “APS direct service personnel and supervisors be qualified by training and experience to deliver adult protective services.”

This toolkit is a resource for both administrators and front-line staff. The toolkit includes the following current trainings, webinars, videos, research, briefs, and other written materials for APS staff. The range of topics include investigation skills, communications with clients, client services, information on specific demographic groups, maltreatment types, important first-hand victim stories, and much more. State APS administrators will be interested in the following:  policies and procedures template for training; up-to-date resources lists; and training materials for administrators.

Link: APS Education and Training Toolkit

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

The Neuroscience Behind Financial Scams

Source: United States Department of Justice

Published: 2020

Summary:

Join us for the webinar, The Neuroscience behind Financial Scams. Older Americans lose billions annually to financial scams and experience of range of harms resulting from their victimization. At times our response is incredulous and at times sympathetic. What is nearly universal is a lack of understanding of why older adults fall victim to these scams. Using brain science and psychological principles, Erik Lande, a neuropsychologist, will guide attendees through an explanation of the mechanisms that facilitate vulnerability to financial scams. Debbie Deem, a former FBI victim specialist who worked frequently with scam victims, will discuss the challenges victims and law enforcement experience, as well as strategies and resources that can assist victims and their families.

Speakers:

  • Erik Lande, Insight Neuropsychology, and Consultant, Ventura Adult Protective Services
  • Debbie Deem, Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) Coordinator Ventura County, and retired FBI victim specialist

Link: The Neuroscience Behind Financial Scams

Topics: Financial Abuse, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community, Finance

Dementia 101: What Every APS Worker Needs to Know about Dementia/Neurocognitive Disorders

Source: Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2020

Summary:

Dr. Irving Hellman reviews developments in the clinical and neuro psychological effects of dementia applicable to your work for adult protective services (APS). This training will review the more common challenges facing your older adult clients suffering from dementia, their family members, and ourselves. Topics will include: the challenges of and risks to the normal aging process; the specific challenges of dementia; differentiating the most common types of dementia; reversible conditions that are often misconstrued as dementia; and several common screens for dementia and mental capacity.

Video

Link: Dementia 101: What Every APS Worker Needs to Know about Dementia/Neurocognitive Disorders

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Guardianship/Conservatorship

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Elder Abuse: Mandatory and Permissive Reporting for Lawyers

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Abuse

Published: 2019

Summary:

When working with older adults, lawyers may be faced with legal and ethical decisions about when and how to report suspected elder abuse. In making these decisions, lawyers must balance the ethical need to honor their client’s autonomy, with potential legal requirements to intervene. An understanding of mandatory and permissive reporting laws is essential for lawyers working in this field.

This webcast will introduce lawyers to the concept of mandatory and permissive reporting, and provide an overview of the analysis a lawyer should take when determining how to proceed in circumstances of suspected abuse. Participants will learn how to:

• Analyze reporting obligations
• Determine who is a mandatory reporter in their state
• Inform clients about mandatory reporting requirements
• Weigh the benefits and burdens of reporting

Recording 

Link: Elder Abuse: Mandatory and Permissive Reporting for Lawyers

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

When the Guardian is the Abuser

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Abuse

Published: 2019

Summary:

Courts name guardians to protect adults from abuse, neglect, or exploitation; however, in some circumstances, guardians are perpetrators of such actions. Guardians wield immense power over adults in their care. More information is needed on the extent and consequences of abuse by guardians. However, recent media reports, as well as reports by the Senate Special Committee on Aging and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and Background Briefs by the National Center for State Courts, highlight egregious cases in which guardians have taken advantage of their positions. What can an advocate do when a guardian becomes an abuser?

In this webcast, we will cover the following on abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation by family or nonprofessional and professional guardians:
• Case examples
• Detection
• Reporting
• Court response and intervention
• Finding systemic solutions

Presenters:
• Dari Pogach, Staff Attorney, American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
• Erica Wood, Assistant Director, American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
• Jim Berchtold, Attorney, Consumer Rights Project, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada

Recording 

Link: When the Guardian is the Abuser

Topics: Caregiving, Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Increasing Access to Healing Services and Just Outcomes for Older African American Crime Survivors: A Toolkit for Enhancing Critical Knowledge and Informing Action within the Crime Victim Assistance Field

Source: National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) & Vera Institute of Justice

Published: 2020

Summary:

Older African Americans experience crime and violence at the intersections of race, age, class, and other identities. Systemic and institutional challenges create barriers for older African American survivors seeking services and supports to heal from harm. This toolkit offers victim services providers and criminal justice systems stakeholders information and practical strategies to enhance their capacity to identify, reach, and serve older African American victims.

The toolkit includes a guide with five content modules. Within each module are video clips, including: an expert panel discussing the specific challenges faced by older African American victims, and/or, older survivors sharing their stories of victimization and the unique dynamics at play in their journey toward healing and recovery. Each module also contains a set of reflection questions designed to help readers synthesize the key points and explore how the strategies offered can be applied in their work. This toolkit also includes a workbook with the reflection questions for users to reflect on the topics explored in the modules.

Downloadable Resources

Online Resources

Video Series

Increasing Access for Older African-American Crime Survivors

Link: Increasing Access to Healing Services and Just Outcomes for Older African American Crime Survivors: A Toolkit for Enhancing Critical Knowledge and Informing Action within the Crime Victim Assistance Field

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Screening/Assessment

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Community, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship

Source: National Center for State Courts

Published: 2020

Summary:

The National Center for State Courts, with the assistance of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, have created Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship, a training designed to assist individuals in exploring ways to help someone who may need assistance in making decisions with informal supports, legal options, and/or adult guardianship.

Finding the Right Fit provides a broad overview of decision-making supports and guardianship that is not specific to state laws or rules. The goal of the training is to provide information and guidance on finding the right kind of supports for someone’s needs, including:

  • Supporting someone in making their own choices about health, money, and lifestyle.
  • Discovering ways to exercise independence.
  • Deciding whether to become a guardian or conservator, and how to support a person’s self-determination and decision-making as a guardian or conservator.
  • Preventing and addressing the risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation that is present with any of the above options.

NOTE: Consult the FAQ page for helpful instructions prior to starting this training.

Estimated time for course completion: approx. 2 hours

This course does not issue a certificate of completion and is for informational purposes only.

Please be aware that this training is not a substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney. Content is provided solely for informational purposes. The points of view do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Center for State Courts or the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging.

The copyrights, if any, to the content are held by the respective copyright owners of such content. These documents should not be construed as giving permission to distribute or otherwise reproduce the content other than as properly authorized by the owner. Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

This training was produced by the National Center for State Courts with the assistance of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging and supported by a contract awarded by Elder Justice Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this training are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

 

Download a PDF of the slides from this training (23MB)

Link: Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship

Topics: Caregiving, Legal

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Trauma-Informed Care

Source: The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center

Published: 2019

Summary:

Ensuring that residents who are trauma survivors receive culturally competent, trauma-informed care is one of several new federal requirements which will go into effect when Phase 3 of the revised federal nursing home regulations are implemented November 28, 2019. Attendees learned about trauma-informed care, the new federal requirement, how trauma-informed care relates to resident-centered care, and what this means for Ombudsman program advocacy and communication. Presenters included Nancy Kusmaul, Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Patricia Hunter, Washington State LTC Ombudsman.

Slides

Link: Trauma-Informed Care

Topics: Long-term Care, Multidisciplinary Teams, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Health Care

Tending to Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2020

Summary:

Creating and sustaining an elder abuse multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a complex task. This webinar explores ways to sustain your work in our current climate and beyond. Talitha Guinn-Shaver, a Multidisciplinary Team Technical Advisor with the US Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, looks at what we know about successful MDTs from research and practice and discusses ways to overcome common challenges.

Video

Link: Tending to Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience:

Why Reframe? Understanding the significance and tools of Reframing Aging and Reframing Elder Abuse

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) and The Gerontological Society of America (GSA)

Published: 2020

Summary:

This is a webinar recording from our 4.30.2020 “Why Reframe? Understanding the significance of Reframing Aging and Reframing Elder Abuse” Webinar. The session goes over Reframing Aging, a long-term social change endeavor designed to improve the public’s understanding of what aging means and the many ways that older people contribute to our society. It also review’s it’s sister project, Reframing Elder Abuse, which aims to demonstrate how we can restructure our communities to put elder abuse on the public agenda, generate a sense of collective responsibility, and boost support for systemic solutions to prevent and address it. This webinar aimed to build awareness of both projects, discuss where they overlap and how we can all learn about the impact of ageism on society. You can access the slides from this presentation here: https://bit.ly/3aPFAC7

Link: Why Reframe? Understanding the significance and tools of Reframing Aging and Reframing Elder Abuse

Topics: Overview/General

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Finance, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

APS Supervisor as Trainer

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2019

Summary:

This webinar is designed for APS supervisors who train new workers. The webinar offers foundational information of adult learning and offers strategies and tips to maximize training time and efforts. It provides tools for evaluating performance and offering effective feedback to workers.

Slides | Handout 

Speaker:

Carol T. Kubota, LCSW

Link: APS Supervisor as Trainer

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Supported Decision Making, Guardianship, and APS: What’s Choice Got to Do With It?

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2019

Summary:

There are no studies proving people are safer under guardianship, but many show the benefits of self-determination in avoiding and reducing maltreatment of vulnerable adults. Supported Decision Making recognizes that all people need help in making decisions; this session will discuss approaches that APS workers can use to address vulnerabilities while supporting a person’s decision making, reducing unnecessary guardianships.

Slides

Speakers:Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse UniversityAnita Raymond, Program Manager, Center for Excellence in Supported Decision Making and Care Management & Consultation Programs, Volunteers of America MN

Link: Supported Decision Making, Guardianship, and APS: What’s Choice Got to Do With It?

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Multidisciplinary Teams

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

The Role of APS in Elder Abuse Cases: Leveraging Strengths Across Disciplines

Source: National Center on Law & Elder Rights

Published: 2020

Summary:

Adult Protective Services (APS) and civil legal aid serve important roles in addressing elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. APS has an investigative role on interventions, and the work of civil legal aid can benefit from knowing what APS can do, and what they need help to do. APS has access to unique tools and resources that can enhance collaborative responses to elder abuse. Working together, legal assistance and APS can strengthen community responses to help those who want and need assistance. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, presenters will also discuss temporary changes to APS approaches to investigations and interventions. Advocates may be seeing an increased need for services related to elder abuse and neglect during this time of social distancing and isolation, and collaborations across disciplines will be important to effectively serve the older adult population.

Slides | Summary

Presenters:

• Andrew Capehart, Senior Business Analyst/Subject Matter Expert, APS TARC

• David Godfrey, JD, ABA Commission on Law and Aging

• Leslie McGee, Senior Research Associate/Subject Matter Expert, APS TARC

 

Link: The Role of APS in Elder Abuse Cases: Leveraging Strengths Across Disciplines

Topics: Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Q & A Webinar Session: Strategies for Providing Remote Legal Services to Older Adults

Source: National Center on Law & Elder Rights

Published: 2020

Summary:

As a follow-up to the webinar on Strategies for Providing Remote Legal Services to Older Adults, NCLER will host a live question and answer session, focused on strategies and technology-based tools that can enhance the provision of virtual legal assistance to older adults. Presenters will respond to questions received during last week’s webinar and take questions from the audience.

Slides

Presenters:

• Hilary Dalin, Administration for Community Living, Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services

• Sarah Galvan, Justice in Aging• Liz Keith, Pro Bono Net

 

Link: Q & A Webinar Session: Strategies for Providing Remote Legal Services to Older Adults

Topics: Legal, Preparedness and Response

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Promising Practice Spotlight: Quality Assurance in Hawaii

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2019

Summary:

This webinar highlights promising practices from the Hawaii Department of Human Services, Social Services Division, which received an ACL APS Enhancement Grant. in 2016. Hawaii designed an electronic quality assurance case review tool to audit cases, collect input, and analyze data to be transmitted into the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS). Staff from Hawaii APS discuss the project, provide a brief demonstration of the tool, and discuss challenges and lessons learned.

Slides | Handout

Speakers:

Kawika Ki’ili, Software Development Center, University of Hawaii Maui

Scott Seto, Social Services Division, Hawaii Department of Human Services

Donna Shitabata, Social Services Division, Hawaii Department of Human Services

Tammy Tom, Center on Aging, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Lori Tsuruda, Social Services Division, Hawaii Department of Human Services

Link: Promising Practice Spotlight: Quality Assurance in Hawaii

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

If It Is Not Documented, It Is Not Done

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2020

Summary:

This webinar will focus on the development of documentation skills for adult protective services professionals. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to: 1. explain the rationale for applying critical thinking skills into case practice documentation by using a specific format; 2. outline the process and content guidelines for documenting case practice activities including client contacts, visitation, assessment, case planning meetings, supervisory sessions, and case staffing; 3. demonstrate the clinical and technical knowledge and skills needed to write, review, and critique case documentation illustrative of effective and reflective case practice.

Webinar Slides

Speaker: Heather Stowe, PhD, Clinical Director, Department of Aging and Community Living, Government of the District of Columbia

Link: If It Is Not Documented, It Is Not Done

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Social Services

Funding APS: Common and Less Common Sources

Source: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Published: 2020

Summary:

National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) National Policy Advisor, Bill Benson, provides an overview of the funding sources primarily used for APS, highlighting Social Service Blog Grant (SSBG), Medicaid administrative claiming, and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. Jennifer Spoeri and Jennifer Mays of the APS program administered by the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) describe their success in securing VOCA funding for their APS program and identify some of the challenges in seeking and using VOCA funding for APS.

Webinar Slides

Link: Funding APS: Common and Less Common Sources

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Finance, Social Services

Strategies for Providing Remote Legal Services to Older Adults

Source: National Center on Law & Elder Rights

Published: 2020

Summary:

Strategies for Providing Remote Legal Services to Older Adults

Legal assistance providers and aging services advocates are evolving their service delivery models in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote legal services are particularly important for older adults and people of all ages with compromised immune systems who are at high-risk if exposed to COVID-19. This webinar will share strategies and highlight technology-based tools that can enhance the provision of virtual legal assistance. The Administration for Community Living will provide an introduction to this topic and will share information on their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Slides | Summary

Presenters:

• Hilary Dalin, Administration for Community Living, Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services

• Sarah Galvan, Justice in Aging

• Liz Keith, Pro Bono Net

Q & A Webinar Session: Strategies for Providing Remote Legal Services to Older Adults

As a follow-up to the webinar on Strategies for Providing Remote Legal Services to Older Adults, NCLER will host a live question and answer session, focused on strategies and technology-based tools that can enhance the provision of virtual legal assistance to older adults. Presenters will respond to questions received during last week’s webinar and take questions from the audience.

Slides

Presenters:

• Hilary Dalin, Administration for Community Living, Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services

• Sarah Galvan, Justice in Aging• Liz Keith, Pro Bono Net

 

Link: Strategies for Providing Remote Legal Services to Older Adults

Topics: Legal, Preparedness and Response

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Legal/Law Enforcement

Understanding and Utilizing State Elder Abuse Statutes

Source: NCLER

Published: 2020

Summary:

Every advocate should know and understand the elder abuse statutes in their state. The statutes define elder abuse, establish who is eligible for services from Adult Protective Services (APS), define reporting responsibilities in the state, specify available civil legal remedies, and set the general framework for APS or law enforcement. This information empowers advocates to know what to report, when to report, who to report to, and what the process may be when a report is filed. Advocates should understand the elder abuse statutes and develop working relationships before they need them.

This training includes:
• Developing a model of who is eligible for services from APS based on state elder abuse statutes.
• Comparing abuse that has taken place to definitions in state law.
• Understanding relationship between state elder abuse statutes and criminal laws.
• Understanding the need for programs and services for persons not eligible under state statute or for acts not within the description of elder abuse in the state statute.

Presenters:
• David Godfrey, Senior Attorney, ABA Commission on Law and Aging
• Karl Urban, Senior Research Manager, WRMA and APS Technical Assistance Resource Center

Video

Link: Understanding and Utilizing State Elder Abuse Statutes

Topics: Legal, Overview/General

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Legal/Law Enforcement

How to Reframe Elder Abuse on Social Media

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association

Published: 2020

Summary:

How to Reframe Elder Abuse on Social Media

Join NAPSA’s Regional Representative Advisory Board (RRAB) as we welcome presenters Aly Neumann and Kimmy Moon. Over the past few years, the NCEA’s Reframing Elder Abuse project, an initiative to change the way we talk about elder abuse with the public has built momentum. The project aims to demonstrate how we can restructure our communities to put elder abuse on the public agenda, generate a sense of collective efficacy on the issue, and boost support for systemic solutions to prevent and address it. Social media can be the first, and in some ways, the easiest place to begin to reframe how the public thinks about elder abuse. During this webinar, participants will review best practices in public communications on elder abuse based on an evidence-based strategy and receive tips and resources in social media application.

Link: How to Reframe Elder Abuse on Social Media

Topics: Overview/General

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Community

Avoiding Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Drugs: Knowing Your Rights

Source: National Consumer Voice

Published: 2019

Summary:

It’s well documented that the use of antipsychotic drugs, when prescribed for elderly persons with dementia, can have serious medical complications, including increased risk of injury, harm, and death. So what can an individual, or their family member do, if they have questions or concerns about the use of these drugs? When is their use warranted (hint – there’s a clinical diagnosis) and when is it inappropriate? This webinar included a conversation about individual rights related to the use of antipsychotic drugs, providing informed consent, and a family member’s perspective about the impact of these drugs. This webinar also shared resources and tips on getting individualized care, and where to go for help or more information.

Presenters:  Kelly Bagby, Vice President on Health, Housing, Hunger, and Human Services, AARP Foundation; Robin Keller, Daughter of Bobby Tweed; and Lori Smetanka, Executive Director, Consumer Voice

Materials

Link: Avoiding Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Drugs: Knowing Your Rights

Topics: Caregiving, Legal, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Health Care, Social Services

The Abuse Intervention Model: A Pragmatic Approach to Intervention for Elder Mistreatment

Source: National Adult Protective Services Association National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

Published: 2017

Summary:

Author
Laura Mosqueda, MD

Summary of Research
Ten percent of older adults experience elder mistreatment, and it is much more common in older adults with dementia. It is associated with higher rates of psychological distress, hospitalization, and death and, in the United States, costs billions of dollars each year. Although elder mistreatment is relatively common and costly, it is estimated that fewer than 10% of instances of elder mistreatment are reported. Given these data, there is a great need for research on interventions to prevent and mitigate elder mistreatment and for a practical model or framework to use in approaching such interventions. Although many theories have been proposed, adapted, and applied to understand elder mistreatment, there has not been a simple, coherent framework of known risk factors of the victim, perpetrator, and environment that applies to all types of abuse. This webinar presents a new model to examine the multidimensional and complex relationships between risk factors.
The Abuse Intervention Model (AIM) covers three domains related to elder mistreatment along with the risk factors in each. (1) Vulnerable older adult: Vulnerability, such as impaired physical function, poor cognition, or emotional distress/mental illness, places older adults at higher risk. (2) Trusted
other: Risk factors include perceived burden, impaired physical function, or emotional distress/mental illness. (3) Context in which older adult and trusted other interact plays an important role as well: low-quality relationship, social isolation, and cultural norms. Two case studies were presented, and risk factors of the three domains were identified.
Theories of elder mistreatment, research on risk factors for elder mistreatment, and 10 years of experience of faculty and staff at an Elder Abuse Forensics Center who have investigated more than 1,000 cases of elder mistreatment inform this model. It is hoped that the Abuse Intervention Model will be used to study and intervene in elder mistreatment.

Research Brief: http://www.napsa-now.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/R2P-Brief-Mosqueda.pdf

Webinar Video: https://vimeo.com/229190196

Link: The Abuse Intervention Model: A Pragmatic Approach to Intervention for Elder Mistreatment

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Health Care

Forensic Markers of Physical Abuse and Documenting Physical Abuse for Prosecution

Source: The United States Department of Justice

Published: 2017

Summary:

Research about elder abuse is expanding our knowledge about its causes, risk factors, outcomes and interventions.

Sidney Stahl, Ph.D., Consultant, Elder Justice Research Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, hosts a discussion with Laura Mosqueda, M.D., FAAFP, AGSF, Chair, Department of Family Medicine, Professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics, Associate Dean of Primary Care, at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, and Page Ulrey, J.D., Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Seattle, WA.

Dr. Mosqueda. MD has completed some of the only forensic research in the context of elder abuse.  She will share her findings with attendees and introduce a physician-friendly protocol for documenting physical abuse for prosecutors should the case go to trial.  The webinar is being co-presented by Ms. Page Ulrey who will describe the value of the new protocol from a prosecutor’s perspective.

Link: Forensic Markers of Physical Abuse and Documenting Physical Abuse for Prosecution

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Community Presentations Tools

Source: Elder Justice Initiative

Published: 2019

Summary:

A library of tools for promoting the safety and well-being of older Americans

The Elder Justice Initiative is committed to strengthening awareness about elder abuse through education. The Get Involved, Get Safe community presentation series contains materials on all types of elder abuse for facilitators to use for educational purposes. Education and awareness are the first steps in helping to prevent elder abuse.

 

 

Link: Community Presentations Tools

Topics: Caregiving, Cognition/Capacity, Diversity/Cultural Competency, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Financial Abuse, Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Neglect, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Finance, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Research on Elder Abuse Among American Indian and Alaska Native Populations

Source: International Association for Indigenous Aging

Published: 2019

Summary:

Webinar host: National Center on Elder Abuse at the Keck School of Medicine of USC

Many tribal communities are experiencing a silent epidemic of abuse of older adults. Limited research on elder abuse has suggested higher rates of abuse among tribal elders, yet little is known about promising strategies that can be implemented to prevent or manage cases of abuse. This webinar will provide an overview of elder abuse in Indian Country, including recent research identifying new national-level prevalence rates and predictors of abuse among American Indian and Alaska Native elders. Rates of various types of elder abuse for Native Americans– almost double that of overall findings from original study findings — will be shared. The unique, complex context that intersects to shape abuse correlates for tribal elders such as history of trauma, social support, and emotional problems will be discussed. Findings from a recent national needs assessment focused on screening and management of elder abuse in tribal health settings that included tribal health care providers, elder advocates, Title VI staff, and tribal Adult Protection Services will also be shared. Presenters will identify promising practices and strategies identified in the needs assessment, as well as a series of recommendations that can be implemented in local tribal communities to help combat elder abuse.

Speakers:

Jolie Crowder, PhD, MSN, RN, CCM

Jolie Crowder, has worked for The International Association for Indigenous Aging for nearly a decade and is a recent doctoral graduate of the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Her current research and practice focus is on issues related to enhancing the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native elders, including elder abuse, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and public health priorities for Native elders. She has extensive experience developing resources for use in Indian Country including publicity toolkits, training materials, and outreach strategies. She has soon-to-be peer reviewed published articles on elder abuse among American Indian elders and Alzheimer’s and dementia, and served as lead author on two recent articles on Alzheimer’s and brain health promotion published on Indian Country Today.

Kendra Kuehn, MSW

Kendra Kuehn, is Policy Analyst for the International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2) and Health Benefits ABCs. She has experience from local to federal level projects. She serves as an advocate for IA2 at the national level regarding elder abuse and aging issues among American Indian and Alaska Natives. Kendra supports policy and data analysis as well as business administration within IA2. Kendra also provides policy expertise and support to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) and the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC). Prior to joining HBABCs Kendra received her Master of Social Work from Catholic University of America’s National Catholic School of Social Service where she interned with the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project in Washington, DC and the U.S. Administration for Community Living’s Office of Elder Rights.

Linda Carson, PhD, MPH, BSN

Linda D. Carson, is a researcher and principal investigator with the International Association for Indigenous Aging. She is a former Associate Professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma and Center Coordinator for the American Indian Diabetes Prevention Center, funded by the N.I.H. National Institute for Minority Health and Disparities. Dr. Carson holds degrees in Nursing, Public Health Epidemiology, and Aging Studies. Dr. Carson’s research is interdisciplinary and focuses on cross-cultural health communications, especially as these relate to elder populations Past research includes funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as P.I. for a project that examined the efficacy of utilizing community health workers to improve diabetes adherence among elder populations in rural Oklahoma, and research with diabetic American Indian elders and their health care providers.

Webinar PowerPoint

Webinar Video

 

Link: Research on Elder Abuse Among American Indian and Alaska Native Populations

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Social Services

The Effects of the Opioid Crisis on Long-Term Care Residents – Points of Advocacy

Source: The National Consumer Voice

Published: 2019

Summary:

Opioid misuse and abuse has become a national epidemic. Yet opioid use in long-term care settings hasn’t gotten the same attention as in other settings. To gain more information about the impact of this epidemic on long-term care facility residents, Consumer Voice obtained feedback from residents and ombudsmen through in-person discussions and online questionnaires about the resident experience. This webinar presents the findings and information gathered, and shares select strategies and recommendations for effective advocacy in addressing resident issues related to opioid use and misuse.

Presenters: Lori Smetanka, Executive Director, Consumer Voice; Jamie Freschi, Consultant, National LTC Ombudsman Resource Center; and Eden Ruiz-Lopez, Assistant Deputy Director, National Center on Elder Abuse

Link: The Effects of the Opioid Crisis on Long-Term Care Residents – Points of Advocacy

Topics: Long-term Care, Prevention/Intervention, Substance Use Disorder

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Health Care, Social Services

Where Faith and Safety Meet: Building Partnerships with Faith Communities to Keep Older Adults Safer

Source: NAPSA

Published: 2019

Summary:

Join NAPSA’s Regional Representative Advisory Board (RRAB) as we welcome presenters Rev. Dr. Anne Marie Hunter and Alyson Morse Katzman, MPA to learn more about the important intersection of faith and abuse, why faith is so important to older adults, and how you can begin to build partnerships with local faith leaders.

Presenters

Anne Marie Hunter is an ordained United Methodist pastor who has worked extensively in the field of domestic violence and elder abuse. Hunter received a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and a Ph.D. in Religion and Society from Drew University. While attending Harvard and Drew, Hunter worked for two battered women’s service groups: Harbor Me in East Boston, Massachusetts and Jersey Battered Women’s Services in Morristown, New Jersey. Hunter served for six years as the pastor of East Saugus United Methodist Church in Saugus, Massachusetts. Hunter also founded Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse, a religiously pluralistic nonprofit. Working as a bridge, Safe Havens works locally and nationally to strengthen the capacity of diverse faith communities and service providers to collaborate to end domestic violence and elder abuse through education, resources, and technical assistance. Since 2003, Safe Havens has partnered with the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life to provide national Technical Assistance to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. OVW-funded projects have resulted in new resources on elder abuse and faith called Where Faith and Safety Meet: Faith Communities Respond to Elder Abuse as well as a new Elder Abuse and Faith training curriculum.

Alyson Morse Katzman earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from New York University. Alyson creates, coordinates, and implements Safe Havens’ local and national outreach, advocacy, and education regarding sexual and domestic violence and elder abuse. Alyson also provides national technical assistance on domestic violence and faith, elder abuse and faith, and domestic and sexual violence and faith in rural communities through Safe Havens’ national Technical Assistance projects, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. Alyson is actively involved in Greater Boston’s Jewish Domestic Violence Coalition as well as in Jewish Women International’s Interfaith Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Alyson has extensive experience in public and non-profit management and has worked with Safe Havens since 2002.

 

Link: Where Faith and Safety Meet: Building Partnerships with Faith Communities to Keep Older Adults Safer

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Health Care, Social Services

Starting a Shelter; Building a Movement: The Critical Role of Shelter in the Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse

Source: National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2019

Summary:

Webinar Host: National Center on Elder Abuse

Home is often the most dangerous place for a person experiencing elder abuse, which is often committed by family members or trusted friends. Short term housing options for people experiencing abuse, such as domestic violence shelters, are often unable to accommodate an older adult’s unique medical, cognitive and cultural needs. Older adults often remain in unsafe situations because they have nowhere else to go. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Justice at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, the nation’s first elder abuse shelter located in a long term care facility, opened its doors in 2005 to address this gap in service. In the nearly fifteen years since then, elder abuse shelter has evolved from a program into a movement, with shelters in a growing number of communities around the country, each adapting the model to its unique needs and resources. The SPRiNG (Shelter Partners: Regional. National. Global.) Alliance ®, a community of practice for shelter programs worldwide, was created in 2012 to lend structure and build capacity for the burgeoning movement.

On this webinar, intended for professionals of a variety of disciplines in the elder justice field, Joy Solomon, Esq., Founder, Director and Managing Attorney of the Weinberg Center, and Jessica Hernandez, LCSW, Social Service Supervisor at Adult Protective Services in Sonoma County, California, will discuss the unique role of shelter in a coordinated community response to elder abuse, describe the evolution and growth of their own models, and provide practical tools for bringing shelter to your community.

Webinar PowerPoint

Webinar Video

Link: Starting a Shelter; Building a Movement: The Critical Role of Shelter in the Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse

Topics: Domestic Violence in Later Life, Legal, Multidisciplinary Teams, Physical Abuse, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Download, Web-based (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Community, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Medical Examiner: Medical Aspects of Elder Abuse and Neglect

Source: UCSF

Published: 2019

Summary:

The course is provided by UCSF. The presenters include Dr. Mosqueda, Dean of USC keck medical school, and Ellen Moffatt, the assistant medical. They will talk about the Medical Aspects of Elder Abuse and Neglect and Medical Examiner’s Office – Who we are, What we do, When to call and Why

Link: Medical Examiner: Medical Aspects of Elder Abuse and Neglect

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Long-term Care, Neglect, Physical Abuse, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Enhancing Your Investigative Skills: Interviewing Alleged Perpetrators

Source: San Diego State University School of Social Work

Published: 2019

Summary:

Course Description

Interviewing alleged perpetrators is a key part of conducting an APS investigation. This interactive and challenging training course is designed to enhance the APS professional’s ability to effectively interview alleged perpetrators. Full of experiential learning, it will include reminders about basic aspects of alleged perpetrator interviews as well as more advanced topics such as exploring defenses, cultural considerations when interviewing alleged perpetrators, addressing volatility, and creating an environment for disclosure and problem solving.

Course Materials
Executive Summary
Trainer Manual
Participant Manual
PowerPoint

© 2019. San Diego State University School of Social Work, Academy for Professional Excellence. Please acknowledge this copyright in all non-commercial uses and attribute credit to the developer and those organizations that sponsored the development of these materials. No commercial reproduction allowed.

Link: Enhancing Your Investigative Skills: Interviewing Alleged Perpetrators

Topics: Multidisciplinary Teams, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Health Care, Social Services

Lifting Up Voices WEAAD Webinar

Source: NCALL

Published: 2019

Summary:

On June 5, NCALL, the National Center on Elder Abuse, and Terra Nova Films hosted a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2019 webinar, which featured the premiere showing of NCALL and Terra Nova Film’s new draft video series, Lifting Up the Voices of Older Survivors, funded by the  Office for Victims of Crime, This collection of video clips shares the lived experiences and resiliency of a number of older survivors of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and financial exploitation. In addition to revealing the heart and incredible strength of these older survivors, the videos also cast a light on the work that is carried out by advocates and the justice system, throughout the country, to lift up the voices of older survivors and to hold their offenders accountable for their crimes. The webinar also explored how the WEAAD 2019 theme, Lifting Up Voices and other initiatives are raising awareness about older survivors throughout the country.

If you missed it, you can now stream a recording of the webinar and download the accompanying materials right here.

Link: Lifting Up Voices WEAAD Webinar

Topics: Caregiving, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Financial Abuse, Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Social Services

Dean Laura Mosqueda: Addressing elder abuse in the U.S.

Source: University of Southern California

Published: 2019

Summary:

Dr. Laura Mosqueda, Dean and Professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, is raising awareness about the issue of elder abuse and shaping how it is addressed in medical schools, clinics and the national conversation.

 Quotes from this episode

“Whenever an older adult comes into an emergency room or a primary care office with some sort of injury or wound, we almost always can find a reason other than abuse or neglect that it happens. So, we don’t want to overcall it and over-accuse people, but we need to be aware that it’s a possibility.”

“Well, I think one of the important things as a primary care physician is that we do take a holistic approach to things, so that sometimes I joke around with my patients and I say, well, your cardiologist’s job is to pay attention to your heart, and my job is to make sure that we remember the heart is attached to the rest of you, and how are we going to take care of your heart in the context of you. And then, even as importantly, in the context of your family and your social situation.”

“There’s remarkable work being done to help caregivers and this idea of caregiver stress, it’s so important for caregivers who are under stress to recognize that within themselves, to not feel embarrassed or ashamed, and to reach out and accept help, which is very hard for a lot of us to do.”

“One of my big jokes is nobody has ever thanked me for preventing their fall. If you go into oncology, it’s a very heroic sort of specialty, and cardio thoracic surgery is very heroic. Geriatrics is not what you think of when you think of a heroic specialty. So it just doesn’t have the same kind of oomph and excitement that other specialties do. But once you get in there, and you do some house calls, and you meet people who are 90 or 100 years old and hear their stories. For me, that’s very inspiring.”

Link: Dean Laura Mosqueda: Addressing elder abuse in the U.S.

Topics: Caregiving, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Health Care

Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship

Source: Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative

Published: 2019

Summary:

Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship can help. This interactive, user-friendly online training provides information and guidance on supports for decision-making. Learn about:
•Supporting someone to make decisions;
•Legal options such as power of attorney, advance directive, and guardianship; and
•Serving as a guardian.

Learn from realistic scenarios:
•Sam, an adult with an intellectual disability, wants to make his own decisions. His parents are worried about his health and safety. How can Sam and his parents work together?
•Jimmy’s mental illness contributed to his financial troubles. His sister has always supported him in times of crisis. If Jimmy has a mental health crisis, what legal options would allow his sister to manage his money?
•Maria, who had a stroke, cannot communicate. She did not have advance care planning documents like a power of attorney. How can her brother make sure her bills are paid and she is getting the best medical treatment?

Balancing Values. Finding the Right Fit is about:
•Protecting the rights of people to make their own decisions;
•Focusing on what the person needs and wants;
•Considering guardianship only if other options won’t work; and
•Making sure every form of decision-making assistance comes without the intention to influence, take advantage, or harm.

Link: Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship

Topics: Caregiving, Cognition/Capacity, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Caregivers, Community

California APS Consistency in Findings Blended Training

Source: San Diego State University School of Social Work

Published: 2019

Summary:

 

This course has been developed as a blended learning composed of an eLearning and an instructor-led training, where participants first take the eLearning to gain foundational information and then attend the skill-building Instructor-Led Training to build upon that foundation.

eLearning:

This eLearning course uses the CA APS Standards for Consistency in Determining Findings Protocol, which consists of the Guiding Principles and the Matrix, and applies the protocol to case studies. The Guiding Principles and the Matrix make the decision-making process in determining findings easier, enhance effectiveness, and reduce the stress often associated with determining findings. This training will provide clarity on what information to gather during an investigation, what is and what is not important in evaluating the information, and guidance in interpreting the information (1.5 CEs).

Instructor-Led Training:

In this hands-on and engaging advanced instructor-led training, participants receive the opportunity to build upon the foundations learned in the eLearning and practice determining findings to create consistency throughout the state. It is packed with scenarios to help participants work through the California APS Standards for Consistency in Determining Findings Matrix and better understand the findings standards set forth in the Guiding Principles for Consistency in Determining Findings. Participants will write various findings rational narratives, providing a framework for presenting logical justification for findings.

 

Link: California APS Consistency in Findings Blended Training

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Social Services

Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI)

Source: San Diego State University School of Social Work

Published: 2019

Summary:

Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI) is a training program of the Academy for Professional Excellence, a project of the San Diego State University School of Social Work.

APSWI provides innovative workforce development to APS professionals and their partners. Our mission is to provide exceptional learning and development experiences for the transformation of individuals, organizations, and communities to ensure that abused and vulnerable older adults and adults with disabilities receive high quality, effective interventions and services.

APSWI in partnership with state and national organizations has developed a nationally recognized Core Competency Training Curriculum for APS professionals. This curriculum is reviewed and approved by experts in the elder and dependent adult abuse fields.

These videos are all FREE for APS programs to use and are available on our webpage. Click here or on the link below for more information.

Link: Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI)

Topics: Financial Abuse, Neglect, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Social Services

Investigating APS Criminal Cases ILT

Source: San Diego State University School of Social Work

Published: 2019

Summary:

Course Description
This course will improve APS professionals documentation, increase their ability to investigate criminal cases, and provide a better understanding of the court process. This instructor-led training will advance participant knowledge and skills gained from NAPSA Core Competency module #22 Working with the Criminal Justice System. (6 CEs)

Use this Self-Assessment to gauge comfort level with advanced material.

Prerequisite
Participants with under 18 months experience working in APS are required to complete Core Competency module #22. Participants with over 18 months experience working in APS are encouraged to complete Core Competency module #22.

Link: Investigating APS Criminal Cases ILT

Topics: Legal

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience:

Estate Planning and Financial Abuse Issues in APS ILT

Source: San Diego State University School of Social Work

Published: 2019

Summary:

Course Description
In this interactive and informative advanced training, participants learn the foundations of estate planning and its relation to financial abuse.  They learn how to identify estate planning documents to enhance their investigations into financial abuse allegations including specific areas of actual and potential abuse. Participants will have multiple opportunities to physically review common estate planning documents and gain helpful insight on specifics to look for in their investigations. Investigation and interviewing techniques including how to document their investigations so that they are more likely to be accepted for prosecution will be covered and participants will walk away feeling more confident in investigating these complex and common abuse allegations.

Link: Estate Planning and Financial Abuse Issues in APS ILT

Topics: Legal, Multidisciplinary Teams, Prevention/Intervention, Screening/Assessment

Access: Download

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Finance, Legal/Law Enforcement

Free Webcast: Recognizing & Addressing Elder Abuse on Legal Helplines and Hotlines

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights

Published: 2019

Summary:

Recognizing elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults over the phone presents unique challenges for legal helpline and hotline advocates, and it requires skills specific to phone communication. Elder abuse may be hidden within the issue presented by the caller, and legal aid attorneys, pro bono attorneys, and staff have the difficult task of spotting these issues and determining the best way to handle them.

In this webcast, presenters will share information on:

  • How to identify elder abuse situations on helplines;
  • Best practices for trauma-informed communication and cultural competency when speaking with callers who have experienced abuse; and
  • Protocols for determining the best course of action, appropriate referrals, and safety precautions.

Senior-focused and general helplines, as well as advocates providing services by phone will benefit from the information presented in this webcast. Older adults who have experienced abuse may reach out to a variety of places to seek assistance, and screening for elder abuse is an important practice for all legal helplines and call centers.

Link: Free Webcast: Recognizing & Addressing Elder Abuse on Legal Helplines and Hotlines

Topics: Cognition/Capacity, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Financial Abuse, Mandatory Reporting, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Screening/Assessment, Sexual Abuse

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Webinar: Signs of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation

Source: National Center on Law and Elder Rights

Published: 2019

Summary:

Webinar for the Signs of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation.

American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging

The mission of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging (ABA Commission) is to serve
as the collaborative, interdisciplinary leader of the Association’s work to strengthen and secure the legal rights,
dignity, autonomy, quality of life, and quality of care of aging persons, particularly low-income and vulnerable
elders. Since 1979, the ABA Commission has carried out this mission through research, policy development,
technical assistance, advocacy, education, and training.
Key Lessons
1. Lawyers and others who work with older adults should be aware of signs of physical, emotional, and
behavioral abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
2. Unexplained changes in behavior, such as fear, nervousness, or changes in emotional stability can be an
indicator of a wide array of issues.
3. Financial exploitation is the unauthorized theft of money or property of a person, however, not all
exploitation leaves a person unable to meet basic needs.
4. Always be observant. If something is concerning, extend the conversation and ask questions.
5. Know when to consult with Adult Protective Services, law enforcement, a social worker, or other
professionals.

Link: Webinar: Signs of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation

Topics: Financial Abuse, Neglect

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers

Older Adult Nest Egg: Tools for preventing financial fraud

Source: Dr. Peter Lichtenberg

Published:

Summary:

Older Adult Nest Egg helps frontline professionals review significant financial decisions to identify and protect seniors vulnerable to fraud. Older adults lose billions of dollars each year to fraud, identity theft, and scams. Now, thanks to new screening interviews created by gerontologist and researcher Dr. Peter Lichtenberg, professionals have the tools to determine awareness, influence, and judgment about an older client’s recent financial decisions.

Link: Older Adult Nest Egg: Tools for preventing financial fraud

Topics: Financial Abuse

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Caregivers, Finance, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

MDT Guide and Toolkit

Source: The United States Department of Justice

Published: 2017

Summary:

MDT GUIDE AND TOOLKIT

The goal of this guide is to encourage and facilitate the development and growth of elder abuse case review Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs). In this guide, you will find information about MDT structures and functions, along with common issues with which a team will need to grapple in developing a case review MDT. There is no one way to create or maintain a MDT. Therefore, this guide offers a variety of ideas, sample materials, resources and tools intended to guide the development and sustainability of an MDT.

Any community can start an MDT. The form and function of your MDT will depend on the community in which it is developed. It may at times be frustrating as you face obstacles in your community. This guide can assist you in anticipating and planning for challenges and applying the knowledge and experiences of other MDTs to the development of your team.

Currently, the elder abuse MDT approach has received little empirical evaluation, although there are exceptions. However, there are no published studies that provide clear direction on how to create and maintain high functioning MDTs in any discipline, although work in this direction is burgeoning. Therefore, this guide draws heavily upon MDTs in other disciplines (child abuse, education, business, medicine).

Link: MDT Guide and Toolkit

Topics: Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Health Care, Social Services

AARP BankSafe Training

Source: AARP

Published: 2019

Summary:

AARP launched a free online training platform as part of their BankSafe Program for bank and credit union employees. More than 2,000 professionals from banks, credit unions, trade associations, adult protective service agencies, law enforcement agencies, and the legal field were participants in AARP’s development of the training platform.

Link: AARP BankSafe Training

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Community, Finance, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Money smart for older adults resource guide

Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Published: 2017

Summary:

Money smart for older adults resource guide, in easy-to-read 14 point font, provides information on common frauds, scams and other forms of elder financial exploitation and suggests steps that older persons and their caregivers can take to avoid being targeted or victimized.

Link: Money smart for older adults resource guide

Topics: Caregiving, Financial Abuse, Mandatory Reporting, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Finance

Language: Spanish

Managing someone else’s money

Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Published: 2015

Summary:

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created guides tailored to the needs of people in four different fiduciary capacities:

  • Agents under a power of attorney
  • Court-appointed guardians
  • Trustees
  • Government fiduciaries (Social Security representative payees and VA fiduciaries)

Each guide contains information on the fiduciary’s responsibilities and tips on how to spot financial exploitation and avoid scams. Also, each guide includes a “Where to go for help” section with a listing of relevant agencies and service providers.

The guides are not intended to provide legal advice or serve as a substitute for your own legal counsel.

Link: Managing someone else’s money

Topics: Caregiving, Financial Abuse, Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Prevention/Intervention

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Caregivers, Community, Finance, Legal/Law Enforcement

Protecting Seniors: A Bank Resource Guide for Partnering with Law Enforcement and Adult Protective Services

Source: American Banking Association

Published: 2018

Summary:

ABA’s 2017 Older Americans Benchmarking Report indicates that in two-thirds of cases where banks suspected elder abuse or fraud, the banks turned to local law enforcement or Adult Protective Services (APS) for assistance. Partnerships with law enforcement and APS can provide resources to educate bankers and their customers about elder abuse. Furthermore, strong partnerships can help prevent devastating financial losses for elderly customers.

This document was designed as a resource guide to support banks in developing relationships with APS and law enforcement officials to proactively combat elder financial abuse and exploitation.

This guide contains information on:

  • The state of elder financial exploitation today
  • The role of APS and law enforcement
  • Reporting
  • How to create partnerships with key players, including customizable letters to reach out to law enforcement agencies, APS, and non-profit organizations.

Link: Protecting Seniors: A Bank Resource Guide for Partnering with Law Enforcement and Adult Protective Services

Topics: Financial Abuse, Legal, Mandatory Reporting

Access: Download

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Finance, Legal/Law Enforcement

Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement

Source: Department of Justice, Elder Justice Initiative and National Center on Elder Abuse

Published: 2018

Summary:

By virtue of U.S. demographics, elder abuse is the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) is a national web module designed to support officers in identifying, intervening, and resolving cases of elder abuse.

Link: Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement

Topics: Caregiving, Domestic Violence in Later Life, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Financial Abuse, Legal, Long-term Care, Mandatory Reporting, Multidisciplinary Teams, Neglect, Overview/General, Physical Abuse, Screening/Assessment, Self-neglect, Sexual Abuse

Access: Web-based, Web-based (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning, Teaching Others

Audience: Community, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Tribal Elder Protection Team Toolkit

Source: National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative

Published: 2017

Summary:

This Toolkit is designed to help you identify and implement a tribal elder protection team. The toolkit is made up of several sections. Each section contains information that concentrates on different aspects of developing a tribal elder protection team. The supplemental materials below include an introduction webinar walking through how to access the Toolkit and utilize training materials.

Link: Tribal Elder Protection Team Toolkit

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency

Access: Download, Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Community

Talking Elder Abuse – A FrameWorks Communications Toolkit

Source: Talking Elder Abuse - A FrameWorks Communications Toolkit

Published: 2017

Summary:

This toolkit is designed to help experts and advocates who work in this field to increase public understanding of

  • why elder abuse is a matter of public concern
  • the causes of elder abuse, including the social determinants and environmental factors that can foster the occurrence of abuse, and
  • what solutions can most effectively prevent elder abuse, address existing cases, and improve the conditions and wellbeing of those who have experienced abuse.

This toolkit, sponsored by Archstone Foundation, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and Grantmakers in Aging, and in partnership with the National Center on Elder Abuse at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, models how to apply the FrameWorks Institute’s evidence-based recommendations to messages and conversations about elder abuse and related issues, in order to build public understanding and support. The kit’s materials include:

  • sample communications, such as a “key points” guide and social media content, that can be adapted and repurposed for your organization’s needs
  • communications examples that demonstrate the “do’s and don’ts” of the framing recommendations
  • graphics that illustrate the key concepts of the recommendations
  • annotations that explain the framing strategies being illustrated.

Link: Talking Elder Abuse – A FrameWorks Communications Toolkit

Topics: Overview/General

Access: Web-based

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Community, Health Care

National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative Online Interactive Educational Modules: Elder Abuse

Source: National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI)

Published: 2016

Summary:

The NIEJI online interactive educational modules are designed for those in professional disciplines who work with and care for native elders in a variety of settings. The modules address: types of elder abuse, elder protection teams, elder vulnerability, prevention, and language while working with Native American elders.

Link: National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative Online Interactive Educational Modules: Elder Abuse

Topics: Diversity/Cultural Competency, Overview/General, Screening/Assessment

Access: Web-based

Intended Use:

Audience: Caregivers, Finance, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

Compulsive Hoarding in Older Adults

Source: Boston University School of Social WorkCenter for Aging & Disability Education & Research

Published: unknown

Summary:

Is your older client simply an eccentric collector or is she a compulsive hoarder? Find out how to know and what to do about it in this popular course. Hoarding is a common problem with serious risks to health and safety, especially for older people. Approximately one in 30 adults is affected. This course describes the signs and manifestations of compulsive hoarding, the trajectory of the condition, and how it affects the individual’s behavior and ability to function at home and in the community. The course features the latest methods of assessment, treatment, and intervention to help clients and their families. Case studies provide concrete examples, and bonus resources and background information are available for downloading throughout the course.

Link: Compulsive Hoarding in Older Adults

Topics: Self-neglect

Access: Web-based (Fee)

Intended Use: Self-directed Learning

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services

In Their Own Words: Domestic Abuse in Later Life

Source: Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)

Published: 2008

Summary:

This training package will fill a significant gap in training resources for a wide range of practitioners who, through their daily professional responsibilities, regularly encounter older victims of domestic abuse. Through the voices of older survivors of abuse, these materials will facilitate important discussions about the dynamics of abuse in later life, barriers to living free from abuse, interventions, and potential collaborations to address the needs of victims.

Link: In Their Own Words: Domestic Abuse in Later Life

Topics: Domestic Violence in Later Life

Access: Download

Intended Use: Teaching Others

Audience: Advocates, Caregivers, Health Care, Legal/Law Enforcement, Social Services