CARIE at White House for WEAAD

On June 14, I had the honor of being one of 150 people invited to the White House for the first ever event focusing on elder abuse and financial exploitation. President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation to recognize June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), marking its seventh consecutive year. This was my first time at the White House.  I was excited to go but did not fully anticipate how I would feel but when I arrived, I was truly in awe. I was surrounded by leaders in the field of elder abuse who I deeply admire including Assistant Secretary for the Administration on Aging, Kathy Greenlee, MacArthur Genius Award winner M.T. Connelly, National Center on Elder Abuse Co-Director, Dr. Laura Mosqueda, Dr. Mark Lachs, Dr. Pamela Teaster, Lori Stiegel, Iris Freeman, Allison Hirschel, Richard Browdie and many, many more. Among the many messages of the day the true effect emerged – Elder Abuse has reached a new turning point.  It is finally getting the attention needed to fully address the appropriate prevention and intervention strategies.  In discussing elder financial exploitation, Dr. Lachs likened it to a “gateway drug.”  His research has indicated that often financial/material exploitation occurs and other abuse including neglect, psychological, and/or physical abuse follows.  One thing is certain – financial exploitation and all types of abuse are devastating to the victims, those who care for them and our society. In the words of President Obama, “Every American deserves the chance to live out the full measure of their days in health and security…  We owe it to our seniors to expose elder abuse wherever we find it and take action to bring it to an end.” Some important announcements were made, including a new initiative, the Elder Abuse Prevention Intervention Program, intended to help implement the Elder Justice Act by providing nearly $6 million in new grants to states and tribes to test interventions designed to prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius also announced that the Coordinating Council created by the Elder Justice Act will be convened. Secretary Sebelius will chair the Council, and she will be joined by at least seven different federal agency officials who operate programs related to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The Ageless Alliance: United Against Elder Abuse, a social justice movement connecting all generations to identify, prevent and eliminate abuse and neglect of the most vulnerable adults in society was launched on June 14 by the National Center on Elder Abuse.  More information can be found at: https://www.agelessalliance.org/. I know I will never forget my visit to the White House and I will never give up or forget the important work to combat the horrifying problem of elder abuse. Written by, Diane A. Menio Executive Director Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)