There is still much more to be done to address elder mistreatment and enhance the quality of care of older adults. Archstone Foundation’s commitment—as detailed in our recent Elder Abuse and Neglect Initiative Legacy Report—compels the field to act, driving systems change and cultural reforms in the pursuit of elder justice.
Here are four core elements of systems change in Archstone Foundation’s efforts:
Forensic Centers and Multidisciplinary Teams
Forensic Centers and multidisciplinary teams bring together professionals from a variety of sectors to review elder mistreatment cases and decide on best courses of action. These teams exemplify the value of expert exchange to effectively address the complexities of elder mistreatment, and have collectively improved processes and outcomes for thousands of older adults.
In total, approximately 220 multidisciplinary teams have been identified nationwide, and all are situated along the continuum of service provision, from specific to comprehensive delivery. Many have replicated, in whole or part, the original design or have gleaned content expertise, technical assistance, toolkits, and information from the forerunner in California, including those in Colorado, Hawaii, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia. Even teams that have operated independently, like the Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute, have collaborated and exchanged technical proficiencies with the California centers.
Training and Education
In addition to the prolific education and interdisciplinary training provided to professionals through the Forensic Centers and multidisciplinary teams, the Foundation invested in the development of curricula for mandated reporters.
While further institutionalized training and screening tools for frontline responders nationwide is essential to enhance recognition and redress, targeted programs across invested disciplines have decidedly advanced elder mistreatment literacy and practice proficiencies. These programs include trainings and training materials for Adult Protective Services, health care pre-professionals, geriatric health professionals, judicial/legal/law enforcement professionals, and clergy.
Research-Informed Practice
Although Archstone Foundation has primarily invested in intervention and direct service delivery projects, it has also directly funded and indirectly advanced a thriving research agenda. Prior to the Foundation’s foray into the area, research studies were sparing and sorely inadequate for a field in dire need of remedies.
As the pioneering philanthropic advocate for elder justice, the Foundation aspired to mend the evidentiary gap by conceiving an evaluative basis for its programmatic design. Lodging a rigorous evaluation component within Elder Abuse Initiative projects, the Foundation facilitated measurement of individuated and collective performance outcomes. Demonstrable project progress toward creditable practices was borne by The Measurement Group findings, informed by the technical assistance provided by the Center of Excellence, and documented in the peer-reviewed Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect.
Infrastructure Improvement
During the Elder Abuse Initiative, the Judicial Council of California investigated elder practices at four study courts in California: Alameda, Orange, San Francisco, and Ventura. The council documented various structural accommodations and court protocols.
With dedicated outreach and legislative advocacy, the California Elder Justice Coalition has had a profound impact on securing funding for Adult Protective Service’s provider training and Victims of Crime Act grants to support multidisciplinary team practice. The California Elder Justice Coalition continues to offer salient webinars, trainings, and materials on elder justice issues for professionals and the public.
Projects awarded to WISE and Healthy Aging, a non-profit social service organization dedicated to aiding older adults in Los Angeles, have strengthened services and enforcement protocols for elders in institutions. Among them, the elder abuse complaint and investigation component of the long-term care ombudsman program has significantly supported elder rights. Last year, WISE and Healthy Aging ombudsmen responded to approximately 10,000 complaints on behalf of residents. The Foundation also bolstered ombudsman investigation of complaints in unlicensed facilities by funding a service liaison to process grievances.
One of the most consequential outcomes of the Foundation’s work has been the promotion of champions and development of young leaders. With a shared passion for the cause, these agents of invention have introduced impactful models of intervention and embraced research innovations which have infused the elder justice community with palpable and promising solutions and inspired generative efforts.
Read Top Ten Takeaways from the Elder Abuse Initiative Legacy Report for more on Archstone Foundation’s efforts to end elder mistreatment.
Comments
My father Richard has Alzheimer’s and he is being financially exploited and neglected by a care giver who married him secretly. She has isolated him from his family. She was married to his nephew and also was married to brothers. We were supposed to have a guardianship hearing, speak to a detective and he was scheduled for a MDE, each was delayed because she checked him into the hospital where she works. Her son was shot to death by his best friend. They are dangerous with extensive criminal backgrounds. APS has not contacted the collaterals and when they did visit, they left a card in the door. Everything I have done to try and protect him has only angered her and further separated us. She is a con artist. I have a lawyer but I feel we need more help. His office implies the court is lax. The clerk of court told me the sheriff should handle it. The sheriff’s office told me to keep calling APS. APS said it’s a legal issue. Meanwhile my daughter saw him sitting cold, wet and naked save for a towel on his lap on Jan 2nd. Please help me protect my dad. His original diagnosis was Oct 2016. His mother died of it and his 4 living siblings are also afflicted. I have a lot of evidence. Again, please. 980-241-3704
Gerson, your blog was beautifully written and really speaks to the the important and considerable investments by The Archstone Foundation in elder mistreatment models (such as the Multidisciplinary Team), training, infrastructure (such as the Forensics Center) and policy work to make a difference in this area. Hat’s off to Team Archstone from The John A. Hartford Foundation. And Gerson, the future is looking very bright. Best wishes on your studies. Warmly, Amy Berman