Honoring National Black History Month | |
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In honor of National Black History Month, we are highlighting the research of the National Center on Elder Abuse. While the research on elder abuse in marginalized communities remains scarce, it is clear that the legacy of slavery, structural racism, forced segregation, and the impact of ongoing oppressions contribute to systemic inequity and marginalization which may increase older African Americans' susceptibility to abuse.
Research also found that the African American community has many protective factors against elder abuse and mistreatment. These protective factors include a history of embracing community networks for a sense of belonging, support, and safety; religious affiliations and spirituality; family loyalty and unity; respect for older adults; and a value on motherhood.
According to NCEA "African American elders’ conceptions of their capacity to access safety and healing through systems-based responses is multilayered, tainted by their experience of oppression and racial and complex traumas." Older African American adults may feel more hesitant than their white counterparts to involve law enforcement or social service agencies when they are experiencing mistreatment. It is essential for professionals to understand these barriers and work to create culturally relevant adult protections and abuse interventions.
For more information, the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) has developed The Collaborating for Justice for Older African Americans Guide. This guide is designed to support elder justice professionals in creating more robust collaborations with African American community-based and culturally-specific programs, with the goal of increasing access to effective and culturally responsive services for Black and African American survivors of elder abuse.
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29th Annual VCPEA Conference Updates | |
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The annual VCPEA conference will be held May 14-16, 2025 in Newport News, Virginia. This highly rated annual event − Virginia’s only conference that focuses solely on the prevention of elder abuse ─ draws individuals from multiple professions, including adult protective services (APS) staff, area agencies on aging, attorneys, domestic violence and sexual assault program staff, fire and rescue services personnel, law enforcement, long-term care ombudsmen, long-term care providers, medical professionals, mental health professionals, social workers, victim witness advocates, and other interested persons.
Conference registration opened on Eventbrite on January 20, 2025. Early Bird (reduced price) registrations will be from January 20 through February 21.
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We invite you to become a sponsor for the 29th Annual VCPEA Conference. We welcome exhibitors from across the Commonwealth.
Your sponsorship/exhibit support allows us to:
- Feature nationally known speakers for our 200+ conference attendees
- Provide scholarships to those who would otherwise not be able to attend,
- Cover audiovisual and event costs.
For more information on the conference, visit www.vcpea.org.
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VCPEA Board Member Named 2025 Hero!
Congratulations to VCPEA Board Member Randi Keesee for being named one of the Senior Advocate's 2025 Heroes! Randi also serves as the Vice President of Development for the Peninsula Agency on Aging.
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Wednesday, February 12, 2:00 – 3:30pm EDT
Hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Mild cognitive impairment, which often goes undiagnosed in older adults, can adversely affect financial decision-making leaving vulnerable adults at risk for financial exploitation. Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse and the research suggests a change in financial management and skills may be an early indicator of cognitive decline. Although a person may be able to perform simple tasks such as writing checks or paying bills, they may have difficulty with more complex tasks such as balancing a checkbook or managing investments. Advances in the neuroscience of cognition and aging can help family members and professionals recognize the signs of poor monetary management and take steps to respond to and prevent the financial risks associated with early cognitive decline. Those research findings can be used to inform the work of law enforcement, adult protective services, financial institutions, clinicians, and other service providers. They are also relevant to older adults, themselves, who can be empowered to take steps to protect their financial well-being. The webinar will feature presentations by experts in the field of aging and cognition.
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Virginia Assisted Living Spring Conference
February 24, 2025 - February 26, 2025
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24016
Inviting assisted living professionals from all across Virginia to join together for this three-day conference providing updates and best practices for Virginia's assisted living industry. Attendees will be provided with CEUs and great networking opportunities.
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Wednesday, March 5, 2:00 – 3:00pm EDT
Hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Many people are socially isolated and regularly feel lonely, according to the National Institutes of Health. Older adults are at higher risk for social isolation and loneliness due to changes in health and social connections that can come with growing older, including: hearing, vision, and memory loss; disability; trouble getting around; and the loss of family and friends. Researchers who study elder abuse are finding that loneliness and dissatisfaction with personal relationships, along with an increase in digital technology usage, has significantly increased vulnerability to scams and other forms of elder financial exploitation. The webinar will feature emerging research, as well as innovative programs, which shed light on interventions that may protect older adults from financial exploitation.
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Thursday, March 6, 2:00 – 3:30pm EDT
Hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
In government imposter scams, criminals contact consumers pretending to be from government agencies. This webinar will look at how to help older adults spot, avoid, and report these scams. The webinar will feature experts from the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
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Webinar: Elder Abuse Representation 101: Utilizing Family Law and Orders of Protection
Wednesday, March 26th, 2:00pm EDT
Hosted by the National Center on Law and Elder Rights
This is the second training in a three-part series designed to provide legal and elder rights practitioners with the basic tools and civil legal strategies needed to help older adults who have experienced abuse. The series will also provide tips for providing person-centered and trauma-informed representation.
This webinar will focus on family law and orders of protection. Attendees will learn how dissolution of marriage can be part of an elder abuse case and the unique challenges these cases present. Attendees will also learn how to use orders of protection as part of elder abuse case strategy, including the interplay between civil and criminal protective orders.
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Tuesday, April 15, 3:00 – 4:00pm EDT
Hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The market for residential solar panels continues to grow. With that growth, marketing and door-to-door sales of solar-related financial products have become more prevalent. In some cases, “solar-specific” loans marketed to consumers present risks, such as hidden markups and fees, misleading tax credit information, unexpected prepayment requirements, exaggerated financial benefits, as well as fraud and scams. This presentation by CFPB experts in solar financing and consumer protection will help professionals and older adults make informed decisions about solar financing.
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Thursday, May 15, 3:00 – 4:00pm EST
Hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Making informed choices about using home equity to pay for retirement costs begins with understanding the products. This webinar will focus on two products commonly offered to older adults:
- Reverse mortgages, which are a special type of home loan typically for homeowners aged 62 or older. With reverse mortgages, borrowers don’t make monthly mortgage payments but are charged interest and fees, and the balance due goes up – not down – over time. In general, the loan must be repaid when the borrower no longer lives in the home.
- Home equity investment products, also known as home equity sharing agreements, which are financial agreements in which a homeowner gets an upfront cash payment in exchange for a percentage of their home’s future value or future price appreciation.
This presentation by CFPB experts will look at how these products work, what questions to ask, and what risks to consider. The webinar will help professionals and older adults make informed decisions about their home equity and how to avoid fraud and scams.
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Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Online Symposium
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Hosted by the National Council on Aging
More information to come!
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Webinar: Elder Abuse Representation 101: Responding to Consumer Law Issues and Scams
Wednesday, May 28th, 2:00pm EST
Hosted by the National Center on Law and Elder Rights
This is the third training in a three-part series designed to provide legal and elder rights practitioners with the basic tools and civil legal strategies needed to help older adults who have experienced abuse. The series will also provide tips for providing person-centered and trauma-informed representation.
This webinar will focus on consumer law and scams. Attendees will learn about common kinds of scams and consumer law issues in elder abuse cases and how to issue spot them in intakes. Attendees will also learn about civil legal remedies available in consumer law and scam cases and things to consider when helping a client choose the remedy best suited for their situation.
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Training and Professional Awareness Support (TAPAS) Grant
VCPEA announces the continued availability of funding to support local, regional, and statewide training and professional awareness events that directly address the problems of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation in Virginia. Applications for TAPAS are accepted on a rolling basis.
For more information on TAPAS, visit www.vcpea.org.
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