New York City is expanding services that help seniors experiencing abuse, Mayor Eric Adams and the Department for the Aging announced Tuesday.
The city currently has five programs in each county. Through this expansion, the city will have two additional community programs in Brooklyn and Queens that provide support and services to older victims of abuse.
The announcement was made during World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the many forms of abuse experienced by older adults.
“Older New Yorkers are our moral guides, so it is inconceivable that so many of them are victims of abuse,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Elder abuse is rarely talked about, but we are recommitting to protecting and supporting our older New Yorkers and making it clear that older New Yorkers don’t have to suffer in silence. Today, on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we are proud to announce that we are expanding our elder abuse services with an additional community program in Brooklyn and another in Queens. Our seniors are the backbone of this city, so we’re doing everything we can to ensure older New Yorkers know where to turn for help.”
Elder abuse can be financial, physical, emotional, or neglect, including the neglect or withholding of food and medication. Abuse is very little reported by older adults. A New York State study showed that only one in 24 victims of elder abuse report it to the police or a social service agency.
DFTA partners with community organizations in each of the five boroughs to help elderly victims of abuse. These services include case assistance, crisis intervention, safety planning, and counseling.
Program staff also work closely with local city police districts and help victims collect evidence, work with authorities, and seek compensation through the New York State Office of Victim Services. Each year, these community programs help about 2,000 older victims of abuse. During the city’s COVID-19 shutdown, these services were provided virtually, but have now resumed to offer in-person services.
For older adults experiencing crimes committed by strangers, DFTA also provides similar support services through its in-house Senior Crime Victims Resource Center. Crimes against seniors include assaults, robberies, and online and telephone scams targeting seniors for money. Scams have been on the rise in recent years.
Older New Yorkers are advised never to give out personal information such as bank account numbers, Social Security numbers or credit card information to unsolicited callers. To report elder abuse or crime, New Yorkers should call 3-1-1 to connect to services.
For more information go to this website.
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