LINN COUNTY, IA – Elder abuse is one of the most under-recognized and under-reported social problems in the United States. To help address this serious problem and to raise awareness on how to prevent elder abuse, the Family Violence Prevention Coalition is hosting a free panel discussion titled “Violence Prevention through the Lifespan: Elder Abuse.” The panel will take place Thursday, May 15, 2014 from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Mercy Hallagan Education Center – 1st Floor, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA. The registration deadline is May 12, 2014. To register, please call 319.398.5559 or email [email protected]
According to Tracey Robertson, Regional Protective Services Coordinator, Heritage Area Agency on Aging, “It’s estimated that one in twenty three elder abuse cases are never reported.” To combat this issue, it is essential that community members and support professionals are informed about elder abuse and the resources that are available to assist victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The panel will feature four panelists: Dr. Sara Sanders, Associate Professor, University of Iowa, School of Social Work; Mike Hensch, Administrator, Johnson County Medical Examiner Department; Kimberly Murphy, Policy Director, Iowa Department on Aging; and Tracey Robertson. The panel will provide information about the prevalence and impact of elder abuse, why there are cracks in the current system in Iowa and how to work within a fragmented system, how the Johnson County Older Adult Death Review Team reviews cases and makes recommendations to community providers, elder abuse legislation being proposed in Iowa, and the resources that are available to assist elderly victims. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for nurses and social workers. The CEU processing fee is $10.
ABOUT THE FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION COALITION: The Family Violence Prevention Coalition’s mission is “To support families in Linn County and surrounding areas who are experiencing family violence in the forms of child abuse, intimate partner violence and elder abuse.” The coalition’s purpose is “To communicate, link, integrate, and coordinate the activities of agencies and organizations who deal with issues of family violence and to explore ways of reaching out to families.” The coalition consists of 34 members representing 23 organizations.