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Senior Corps Joins DOJ in Elder Justice Initiative
After working to reap the rewards of retirement, our nation’s seniors are targets for those who would prey on the vulnerabilities that often come with aging. To combat this problem, Senior Corps is partnering with the Department of Justice to support the Elder Justice Initiative to prevent elder abuse.
The initiative combines the use of federal resources, law enforcement, and state and local officials to protect seniors from financial, emotional, and physical threats to their well-being. This is a need that will grow for years based on United States Census Bureau reports that expect continued growth of the 65-and-older population as the Baby Boom generation crosses that milestone in droves.
Elder abuse impacts a large swath of our seniors as approximately 1 of every 10 are being abused each year, with the majority of these incidents going unreported to authorities. The harm that bad actors cause can be devastating in so many ways.
Seniors are often targeted because they may be more susceptible to approaches that prey on desires to form romantic relationships, offers of get-rich-quick schemes, harassing calls about false criminal penalties or that threaten physical violence.
With more than 245,000 volunteers serving through Foster Grandparents, RSVP, and Senior Companions, Senior Corps can be a valuable resource to educate groups and individuals about preventative measures, and to be the eyes and ears that observe warning signs of abuse or disturbing incidents. Each year, Senior Corps makes more than 1,100 grants to local communities supporting the implementation of our three program models at 30,000 service locations.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Department of Justice to expand our work in combatting elder abuse and fraud,” said Deborah Cox-Roush, director of Senior Corps. “From educating seniors on how to prevent fraud to leveraging even more volunteers to join these efforts and working with local law enforcement, our network of more than 245,000 Senior Corps volunteers are ensuring our nation’s seniors have the care and support they need and deserve.”
Our Senior Corps volunteers participate in service and outreach that build strong connections with peers as they serve each other and the community, in addition to reaching seniors who may slip through various social safety nets. Here are some examples:
Community Action Southwest RSVP – Washington, Pennsylvania | Community Action Southwest RSVP volunteers teach the “Money Smart for Older Adults” (MSOA) curriculum, which is a federally developed instructor-led training. The MSOA curriculum includes lessons about common types of elder financial exploitation, scams targeting veterans, identity theft, medical identity theft, scams that target homeowners, planning for unexpected life events, and how to be financially prepared for disasters. In addition to financial literacy education, volunteers also provide social support and refer seniors to resources that prevent elder abuse and enable them to maintain independent living arrangements.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Stockton RSVP – Stockton, California | RSVP volunteers were recruited and trained to provide valuable information and assistance to at least 700 victims and members of the community to inform them how to avoid abuse. Volunteers are trained to make abuse prevention presentations to their peer groups and participate in outreach events and seminars.
Our elders have earned the right to enjoy their golden years in security and be protected from fraudulent schemes. We congratulate our Senior Corps members for joining this important Elder Justice initiative to raise awareness of this issue and use all the tools at their disposal to keep seniors safe and secure. That is why we hosted a series of webinars and are making resources available to our community. Visit our resource page here to learn more.
