June 15 marks Elder Abuse Awareness Day (EAAD). The occasion felt especially pressing this past Sunday as New York City’s older population continues growing larger than ever.
The NYC Department for the Aging held its first ever EAAD event last week at Gracie Mansion where several survivors and community partners including the NYPD were honored.
“We really wanted to provide an opportunity to honor the courage of older adults who come forward and seek services through our Elder Justice providers,” said NYC Aging Senior Director Molly Bernstein over video call. “But we also know that this is really difficult work, and it takes a lot of dedication and a lot of passion and commitment from advocates and from direct service professionals.
“And so we wanted to really celebrate them as well and recognize them and their hard work and their commitment.”
NYPD earned NYC Aging’s Collaborative Impact Award for training more than 40,000 officers on identifying elder abuse and establishing an elder abuse liaison in each police precinct. The role designates someone to specifically help older New Yorkers come forward.
Elder abuse can range from physical, emotional and sexual abuse to scams and neglect. Perpetrators are most frequently those victims trust like informal caregivers or other friends and family.
“An older adult may want that support and they may want that service for themselves, but they may also be concerned about, if I report this, particularly if I report it to law enforcement, what’s going to happen to the person I love who’s harming me?” said Bernstein. “So what we really work with our providers to do is to provide person-centered, trauma-informed care. And so that essentially means you listen to the older adult and you figure out what their goals are.”
More than 300,000 older New Yorkers face abuse statewide each year, according to the NYS Office of Aging. LiveOn NY executive director Allison Nickerson says ageist attitudes lead the public to discount elder abuse. “It’s like we’re discriminating against our future selves,” she said.
Those with neurocognitive impairments like dementia are more likely to face abuse yet those same conditions often encourage dismissive responses.
Nickerson, whose coalition represents more than 100 nonprofits serving older New Yorkers across the state, sees EAAD as an opportunity for seniors to know their rights and the general public to learn more about prevention.
“Elder Abuse Awareness Day is a really important opportunity to talk out in the open about abuse,” said Nickerson. “Abuse at any age is usually shrouded in shame and fear, embarrassment and silence. It is no different and often compounded for older people, who often are embarrassed because of everything from scams to physical abuse. Or a lot of older people experience abuse from someone they know or are [related to] … the day represents the opportunity to slow down and talk about this problem out in the open.”
Here in Harlem, State Sen. Cordell Cleare points to several relevant bills toward stemming elder abuse across the state as chair of the Aging Committee.
S1202A/A7277 would establish an interagency task force “with a goal of protecting older adults from abuse and mistreatment.” S01353A would create a legal remedy for elder and caregiver abuse survivors to escape coerced debt (as well as survivors of other forms of abuse). Both bills are awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign into law.
Other bills mentioned by the state senator remain in more formative stages. S8072A would establish a public awareness campaign on elder financial exploitation.
“This dedicated day highlights the urgency of immediate action and crafting forward-thinking legislation, which reflects that every New Yorker deserves age with dignity, respect, and opportunity,” said Cleare over email.