November/December 2017
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News & Updates Archive
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CEJC News National News
- Landmark Financial Abuse Bill Passes
- Feds Support Elder Justice Innovations
- Administration Gives Green Light to Arbitration Agreements
- New York Expands Victim Comp
- CFPB Issues Resources to Prevent Home Loss
- VERA Institute to Study Underserved Victims
- AGs to Focus on Elder Abuse
Spotlight
Our "Secret" is Out! CNBC Discovers Debbie Deem
In The FBI's Secret Weapon Against Lottery and Romance Scammers, CNBC reporter Bob Sullivan describes FBI Victim Specialist and CEJC member Debbie Deem talking to a scam victim through a closed door for half an hour before he finally let her in—and that's after he'd thrown out an APS worker. To those in the field of elder abuse prevention, Debbie is no secret. She's an indefatigable ally who for decades has trained professionals, launched peer support groups, goaded advocates, and guided victims down the often perilous path to help. She has honed her craft through experience and instinct, arranging for caller ID, getting families involved, negotiating with creditors, safety planning, and mostly, letting victims know they're not alone, The article is replete with "Debbie-isms" like:
Our "Secret" is Out! CNBC Discovers Debbie Deem
In The FBI's Secret Weapon Against Lottery and Romance Scammers, CNBC reporter Bob Sullivan describes FBI Victim Specialist and CEJC member Debbie Deem talking to a scam victim through a closed door for half an hour before he finally let her in—and that's after he'd thrown out an APS worker. To those in the field of elder abuse prevention, Debbie is no secret. She's an indefatigable ally who for decades has trained professionals, launched peer support groups, goaded advocates, and guided victims down the often perilous path to help. She has honed her craft through experience and instinct, arranging for caller ID, getting families involved, negotiating with creditors, safety planning, and mostly, letting victims know they're not alone, The article is replete with "Debbie-isms" like:
- "You can't just say, 'Stop this. Don't do it again' and think that's going stop it. It's a process, like falling for a scam is a process."
- "Many of these victims just don't feel important to anyone anymore. Scammers prey on feelings of hope and purpose and give people a reason to get up in the morning. Often, these folks are talking to scammers two to six times each day. That's a big chunk of their lives. You have to replace whatever they are getting out of the scam."
- "You have to make them glad to call you, not worried that you will yell at them."
National News
Landmark Financial Abuse Bill Passes
In what Elder Justice Coalition president Bob Blancato calls"the most significant elder justice legislation to pass since the Elder Justice Act of 2010," the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (S 178) was passed on October 18, 2017. The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) with 13 co-sponsors, focuses on enhancing the criminal justice system's response to elder abuse and contains provisions for addressing guardianship reform and older victims' rights.
On the criminal side, it:
Landmark Financial Abuse Bill Passes
In what Elder Justice Coalition president Bob Blancato calls"the most significant elder justice legislation to pass since the Elder Justice Act of 2010," the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (S 178) was passed on October 18, 2017. The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) with 13 co-sponsors, focuses on enhancing the criminal justice system's response to elder abuse and contains provisions for addressing guardianship reform and older victims' rights.
On the criminal side, it:
- Requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to:
- Designate Elder Justice Coordinators within DOJ and in federal judicial districts
- Establish a working group to provide policy advice
- Report to Congress on its outreach to state and local law enforcement agencies on the process for collaborating with the federal government to investigate and prosecute interstate and international elder financial exploitation cases
- Provide information, training, and technical assistance to help states and local governments investigate, prosecute, prevent, and mitigate the impact of elder abuse in coordination with the Elder Justice Coordinating Council
- Collect data on elder abuse cases and investigations
- Requires the Federal Trade Commission to designate an Elder Justice Coordinator within its Bureau of Consumer Protection
- Increases training for federal investigators and prosecutors
- Amends the federal criminal code to expand prohibited telemarketing fraud to include "telemarketing or email marketing" fraud and expands the definition of telemarketing or email marketing to include measures to induce investment for financial profit, participation in a business opportunity, or commitment to a loan
- Subjects defendants convicted of telemarketing or email marketing fraud that targets or victimizes people over age 55 to an enhanced criminal penalty and mandatory forfeiture.
- Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish data on elder abuse cases referred to adult protective services
- Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on elder justice programs and initiatives in the federal criminal justice system, including:
- Efforts to monitor the exploitation of older adults in global drug trafficking schemes and criminal enterprises, the incarceration of exploited older adults who are U.S. citizens in foreign court systems, and the total number of elder abuse cases pending in the United States
- The results of federal government intervention with foreign officials on behalf of U.S. citizens who are elder abuse victims in international criminal enterprises.
- Requires the Office of Victims of Crime to report to Congress on the nature, extent, and amount of funding under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 for older crime victims.
- Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services and Elder Justice) of the Social Security Act to specify that HHS may award APS demonstration grants to the highest courts of states to assess adult guardianship and conservatorship proceedings and to implement necessary changes. The highest court of a state that receives a demonstration grant must collaborate with the state's unit on aging and adult protective services agency.
- Requires DOJ to publish model power of attorney legislation for the purpose of preventing elder abuse.
- Requires DOJ to publish best practices for improving guardianship proceedings and model legislation related to guardianship proceedings for the purpose of preventing elder abuse (this provision was originally contained in S182 IS: Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act by Sen. Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)).
Feds Fund Elder Justice Innovations
Both the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) have announced awards to fund the development and evaluation of elder justice innovations.
The Administration for Community LIving (ACL) grants totaling nearly $2.2 million went to five non-profit organizations to improve the well-being of abuse survivors, study outcomes of APS interventions, and test promising APS practices. Programs receiving funds include:
Both the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) have announced awards to fund the development and evaluation of elder justice innovations.
The Administration for Community LIving (ACL) grants totaling nearly $2.2 million went to five non-profit organizations to improve the well-being of abuse survivors, study outcomes of APS interventions, and test promising APS practices. Programs receiving funds include:
- Center for Elder Law & Justice, Inc. (Buffalo, New York) will implement an Elder Justice Navigator program designed to provide court navigation assistance and coordination of community-based services to older victims.
- Rush University (Chicago) will test the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of using simulated video equipment to reduce the frequency and severity of abuse in high-risk populations.
- The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) will pilot the Identification, Services, and Outcomes (ISO) Matrix, a tool that defines actions and interventions to reduce risk of abuse in order to increase consistency of APS practice in California. A mobile application version of the ISO Matrix will be used by APS in San Francisco and Napa counties, and UCSF will measure and evaluate how its use affects client outcomes and APS practice.
- The University of Southern California (USC) will train APS workers and community-based professionals on the use of a tool called the Interview for Decisional Abilities. It will work with APS professionals to integrate the tool into their practice and create a toolkit for disseminating it nationally.
- The Regents of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) will develop a curriculum and training for APS and community agencies on how to integrate elements of trauma-informed care into their practice and integrate a case-management component into their elder abuse forensic center. and enhance counseling and legal assistance available to elders experiencing elder abuse. They will evaluate outcomes of both interventions.
- Futures Without Violence (CA) received $500,000 to educate teams of justice and community professionals about financial exploitation and elder abuse and create a shared, grassroots justice system-community vision for elder justice.
- The American Bar Association Fund for Justice (DC) was awarded $235,000 to enhance and evaluate the capacity of elder abuse fatality teams to improve victim services.
- Northwestern University was awarded $500,000 to develop a technology called the Combating Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Through Technology/DASHBOARD, an "interoperable and integrated dashboard to share data, risk factors and resources for elder abuse victims."
- Elder Law of Michigan Inc. received $500,000 to develop a community-level referral model for victimized and vulnerable older adults.
- Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc. received $352,000 to recruit at least 50 elder justice advocates from victim advocates and victim assistance staff in district attorney offices, law enforcement units, and domestic violence programs in at least 10 regions or counties across New York State.
- Pro Bono Net, Inc. (NY) was awarded $496,000 to create online tools to identify, respond to, and remedy elder abuse and financial exploitation.
- Utah Legal Services, Inc. received $346,000 to educate the public on barriers to reporting by sharing victims’ experiences and challenges in culturally appropriate video and podcast programs in Navajo, Spanish and English; develop and implement tailored legal intervention for high risk individuals; and develop a training protocol in order to improve referrals.
- The National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) received $485,000 to create a collection of video clips of older survivors describing their experiences and insights regarding effective interventions, such as support groups and transitional housing.
Administration Gives Green Light to Arbitration Agreements
The current administration is aggressively derailing the previous administration's efforts to ban the use of arbitration agreements, which deep-pocket organizations like nursing homes and banks use to shield themselves against lawsuits arising from claims of abuse, neglect, fraud, and other misconduct. By signing the agreements, consumers waive their rights to seek legal relief when they experience abuse or neglect. This includes the right to participate in class action suits, which are the only form of justice available to many low income victims.
Nursing home residents are typically asked to sign arbitration agreements when they are admitted, when many fear that failing to do so will result in being denied care. If disputes occur, their only recourse are arbitration proceedings, which are often secretive. In fall 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented new nursing home regulations barring facilities that receive federal funding from requiring the agreements. CMS has since done an about-face, proposing a new rule to role back the ban and allow the use of the agreements by nursing homes, or worse, authorizing homes to require potential residents to sign them.
In the case of financial institutions, in 2010, the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was authorized to study the use of mandatory arbitration by financial institutions, including banks and credit card companies. Earlier this year, CFPB issued a new rule banning their use. On Oct 10 Congress struck down the rule. In a New York Times op ed, Let Consumers Sue Companies, CFPB Director Richard Cordray explains why class action should remain an option. See For an explanation of how financial institutions use the arbitration agreements, and why they should not, see The Right to Sue and Two Unlikely Senators.
California has enacted a potential remedy in the form of SB 33, authored by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and sponsored by State Treasurer John Chiang, which prohibits banks from requiring disputes over fraudulent accounts to be sent to private binding arbitration. The bill was prompted by the discovery that Wells Fargo had created millions of checking, savings, credit card and other accounts without customers’ knowledge or permission. Since most banks are federally chartered, they are subject to federal regulations and are not affected by the new measure.
The current administration is aggressively derailing the previous administration's efforts to ban the use of arbitration agreements, which deep-pocket organizations like nursing homes and banks use to shield themselves against lawsuits arising from claims of abuse, neglect, fraud, and other misconduct. By signing the agreements, consumers waive their rights to seek legal relief when they experience abuse or neglect. This includes the right to participate in class action suits, which are the only form of justice available to many low income victims.
Nursing home residents are typically asked to sign arbitration agreements when they are admitted, when many fear that failing to do so will result in being denied care. If disputes occur, their only recourse are arbitration proceedings, which are often secretive. In fall 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented new nursing home regulations barring facilities that receive federal funding from requiring the agreements. CMS has since done an about-face, proposing a new rule to role back the ban and allow the use of the agreements by nursing homes, or worse, authorizing homes to require potential residents to sign them.
In the case of financial institutions, in 2010, the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was authorized to study the use of mandatory arbitration by financial institutions, including banks and credit card companies. Earlier this year, CFPB issued a new rule banning their use. On Oct 10 Congress struck down the rule. In a New York Times op ed, Let Consumers Sue Companies, CFPB Director Richard Cordray explains why class action should remain an option. See For an explanation of how financial institutions use the arbitration agreements, and why they should not, see The Right to Sue and Two Unlikely Senators.
California has enacted a potential remedy in the form of SB 33, authored by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and sponsored by State Treasurer John Chiang, which prohibits banks from requiring disputes over fraudulent accounts to be sent to private binding arbitration. The bill was prompted by the discovery that Wells Fargo had created millions of checking, savings, credit card and other accounts without customers’ knowledge or permission. Since most banks are federally chartered, they are subject to federal regulations and are not affected by the new measure.
New York Expands Victim Comp
On October 17, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the state has expanded eligibility for crime victims' compensation to include victims of hate crimes and certain other offenses, including financial crimes. Victims of hate crimes and certain other offenses who are not physically injured, and vulnerable elderly or disabled individuals incapable of caring for themselves who have lost up to $30,000 in savings, can now seek compensation from the state Office of Victim Services. Before the change, eligibility for compensation was limited to victims who suffered physical injuries as is the case in other states. New York is the only state in the nation that has no cap on counseling or medical expenses, which means crime victims and family members can receive help as along as it is necessary. See Governor Cuomo Announces Expanded Eligibility for Certain Crime Victims to Receive Compensation from New York State. CEJC and the California Commission on Aging are attempting to extend compensation to victims of financial crime in the state (see CEJC's Current Policy Priorities).
On October 17, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the state has expanded eligibility for crime victims' compensation to include victims of hate crimes and certain other offenses, including financial crimes. Victims of hate crimes and certain other offenses who are not physically injured, and vulnerable elderly or disabled individuals incapable of caring for themselves who have lost up to $30,000 in savings, can now seek compensation from the state Office of Victim Services. Before the change, eligibility for compensation was limited to victims who suffered physical injuries as is the case in other states. New York is the only state in the nation that has no cap on counseling or medical expenses, which means crime victims and family members can receive help as along as it is necessary. See Governor Cuomo Announces Expanded Eligibility for Certain Crime Victims to Receive Compensation from New York State. CEJC and the California Commission on Aging are attempting to extend compensation to victims of financial crime in the state (see CEJC's Current Policy Priorities).
CFPB Issues Resources to Prevent Home Loss
Countless older Americans have lost homes as a result of fraudulent or misleading reverse mortgages, leaving some homeless. In August, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released the following resources on reverse mortgages to help older homeowners:
Countless older Americans have lost homes as a result of fraudulent or misleading reverse mortgages, leaving some homeless. In August, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released the following resources on reverse mortgages to help older homeowners:
- Issue Brief: Explores the tradeoffs of borrowing a reverse mortgage loan in order to delay claiming Social Security;
- Video: Provides information about the features of reverse mortgages; and
- Discussion Guide designed to help homeowners considering a reverse mortgage prepare for their discussion with a HUD-approved housing counselor.
- CFPB has also posted a blog on the topic and invites anyone with complaints a reverse mortgages by Submiting a Complaint or contacting them at (855) 411-CFPB (2372). For questions and additional information contact CFOB at [email protected].
VERA Institute to Study Underserved Victims
The VERA Institute of Justice’s Center on Victimization and Safety has received a grant from the Office on Victims of Crime’s (OVC) to start a new National Center on Underserved Victims of Crime. Older adults are among the groups that will be focused on. The National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life serves as the lead organization for identifying older victims' needs and is currently conducting interviews and focus groups to identify gaps and challenges in services for older victims. CEJC will be offering input with an emphasis on financial abuse and exploitation victims.
The VERA Institute of Justice’s Center on Victimization and Safety has received a grant from the Office on Victims of Crime’s (OVC) to start a new National Center on Underserved Victims of Crime. Older adults are among the groups that will be focused on. The National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life serves as the lead organization for identifying older victims' needs and is currently conducting interviews and focus groups to identify gaps and challenges in services for older victims. CEJC will be offering input with an emphasis on financial abuse and exploitation victims.
AGs to Focus on Elder Abuse
The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) has announced that it will focus on strengthening efforts nationwide to combat elder abuse. According to NAAG's President, Kansas AG Derek Schmidt, the “Protecting America's Seniors: Attorneys General United Against Elder Abuse” initiative will culminate in a NAAG Presidential Initiative Summit in Manhattan, Kan., on April 17-18, 2018. AG Schmidt has appointed a bipartisan working group of four other state attorneys general: Mark Brnovich (R-Ariz.), Chris Carr (R-Ga.), Peter Kilmartin (D-R.I.), and Ellen Rosenblum (D-Ore.) to guide the year-long effort.
The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) has announced that it will focus on strengthening efforts nationwide to combat elder abuse. According to NAAG's President, Kansas AG Derek Schmidt, the “Protecting America's Seniors: Attorneys General United Against Elder Abuse” initiative will culminate in a NAAG Presidential Initiative Summit in Manhattan, Kan., on April 17-18, 2018. AG Schmidt has appointed a bipartisan working group of four other state attorneys general: Mark Brnovich (R-Ariz.), Chris Carr (R-Ga.), Peter Kilmartin (D-R.I.), and Ellen Rosenblum (D-Ore.) to guide the year-long effort.
California News
Kudos to San Mateo Prosecutors
San Mateo prosecutors Tara Heumann and Nicole Sato, with the help of investigator Andrea Higgens, successfully prosecuted an East Palo Alto woman who got her 97-year-old aunt to sign a quitclaim deed, which gave her ownership of the older woman's home. The home's value was estimated to be worth between $500,000 and $1 million, and the niece further withdrew between $40,000 and $80,000 from her aunt's bank account and isolated her from other family members. The victim, who had been diagnosed with a mild cognitive impairment, thought the paperwork she had signed was to guarantee that the house and her other assets would be divided among family members when she died. The niece was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison. For more, see Woman receives seven years, four months in prison in elder abuse case.
Kudos to San Mateo Prosecutors
San Mateo prosecutors Tara Heumann and Nicole Sato, with the help of investigator Andrea Higgens, successfully prosecuted an East Palo Alto woman who got her 97-year-old aunt to sign a quitclaim deed, which gave her ownership of the older woman's home. The home's value was estimated to be worth between $500,000 and $1 million, and the niece further withdrew between $40,000 and $80,000 from her aunt's bank account and isolated her from other family members. The victim, who had been diagnosed with a mild cognitive impairment, thought the paperwork she had signed was to guarantee that the house and her other assets would be divided among family members when she died. The niece was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison. For more, see Woman receives seven years, four months in prison in elder abuse case.
State Auditing Brius Homes
Brius Healthcare, California’s largest nursing home, has been cited by regulators, decertified, condemned by consumer groups, and sued by nursing home residents and their families for failures to provide basic care, leading in some instances to resident deaths. During a three year period, the company was cited for nearly 400 violations of state and federal nursing care rules, of which, 37 posed “imminent danger of death or serious harm to patients” In June of 2017, the State Legislature's Audit Committee, by unanimous decision, decided to audit Brius' financial activities. The scope and objectives of the audit are available at Brius Healthcare—Medi-Cal Reimbursements. Meanwhile, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, a grassroots, worker-led organization conducted its own study, Brius Healthcare's Insider Transactions: How California’s Largest Nursing Home Chain Funnels Millions to Insider Companies, which describes how Brius' financial activities affect residents' care. The report and updates are posted on BriusWatch.org, a website created by Brius employees. Earlier this month, Brius residents got approval to move forward with a class-action lawsuit against dozens of the company’s nursing homes across California in a class-action lawsuit known as Foremen vs. Shlomo Rechnitz et al, which is being heard by a Los Angeles arbitrator.
Brius Healthcare, California’s largest nursing home, has been cited by regulators, decertified, condemned by consumer groups, and sued by nursing home residents and their families for failures to provide basic care, leading in some instances to resident deaths. During a three year period, the company was cited for nearly 400 violations of state and federal nursing care rules, of which, 37 posed “imminent danger of death or serious harm to patients” In June of 2017, the State Legislature's Audit Committee, by unanimous decision, decided to audit Brius' financial activities. The scope and objectives of the audit are available at Brius Healthcare—Medi-Cal Reimbursements. Meanwhile, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, a grassroots, worker-led organization conducted its own study, Brius Healthcare's Insider Transactions: How California’s Largest Nursing Home Chain Funnels Millions to Insider Companies, which describes how Brius' financial activities affect residents' care. The report and updates are posted on BriusWatch.org, a website created by Brius employees. Earlier this month, Brius residents got approval to move forward with a class-action lawsuit against dozens of the company’s nursing homes across California in a class-action lawsuit known as Foremen vs. Shlomo Rechnitz et al, which is being heard by a Los Angeles arbitrator.
Gearing Up for Awareness Month
Even as businesses prepare for the holiday season, California advocates are already preparing for Elder Abuse and Awareness Month in June 2018. Once again, CEJC is partnering with California's Department of Social Services on the event, which will feature a contest to promote the theme "Abuse of Anyone is a Human Rights Issue." Advocates, students, professionals, and concerned citizens are invited to submit (1) short videos, (2) radio spots, (3) slogans and (4) posters that address the theme. For more, visit the campaign's Facebook page for details. Need inspiration? Check out CEJC's Principles of Elder Justice.
Even as businesses prepare for the holiday season, California advocates are already preparing for Elder Abuse and Awareness Month in June 2018. Once again, CEJC is partnering with California's Department of Social Services on the event, which will feature a contest to promote the theme "Abuse of Anyone is a Human Rights Issue." Advocates, students, professionals, and concerned citizens are invited to submit (1) short videos, (2) radio spots, (3) slogans and (4) posters that address the theme. For more, visit the campaign's Facebook page for details. Need inspiration? Check out CEJC's Principles of Elder Justice.
California Implements NAMRS
California was among the states to receive a grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to help build their data systems and align them with the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS), a national reporting system based on data from state adult protective services (APS) agency information systems. Under its grant, California's Department of Social Services (CDSS) has been working with county APS experts and Dr. Pi-Ju (Marian) Liu, Assistant Professor at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), to revise the state's data reporting form (called the Soc 242 in reference to the California's Welfare & Institutions code). Although California has been submitting partial data to NAMRS, the Soc 242 does not include other requested data sets. Under the grant, Dr. Liu will evaluate options and make recommendations for California APS to consider collecting to enable the state to fully participate in NAMRS. View the first NAMRS report.
California was among the states to receive a grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to help build their data systems and align them with the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS), a national reporting system based on data from state adult protective services (APS) agency information systems. Under its grant, California's Department of Social Services (CDSS) has been working with county APS experts and Dr. Pi-Ju (Marian) Liu, Assistant Professor at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), to revise the state's data reporting form (called the Soc 242 in reference to the California's Welfare & Institutions code). Although California has been submitting partial data to NAMRS, the Soc 242 does not include other requested data sets. Under the grant, Dr. Liu will evaluate options and make recommendations for California APS to consider collecting to enable the state to fully participate in NAMRS. View the first NAMRS report.
Media Watch
New America Media Closes
In what is a devastating blow to media watchers was the closure of the Pacific News Service (PNS) and its offshoot, New America Media (NAM) in November. PNS was started in 1970 with NAM launched later to promote ethnic and community-based media. In 2008, Paul Kleyman came on board to increase coverage of ethnic elder issues. Paul was the recipient of CEJC's 2016 Media Appreciation Award. Among NAM's accomplishments under his leadership are:
New America Media Closes
In what is a devastating blow to media watchers was the closure of the Pacific News Service (PNS) and its offshoot, New America Media (NAM) in November. PNS was started in 1970 with NAM launched later to promote ethnic and community-based media. In 2008, Paul Kleyman came on board to increase coverage of ethnic elder issues. Paul was the recipient of CEJC's 2016 Media Appreciation Award. Among NAM's accomplishments under his leadership are:
- The posting of 888 articles on aging in English, with many linking to the original stories in Spanish, Chinese Korean, and other languages.
- Collaborating with the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) on the Journalists in Aging Fellows program.
- Raising about $2.25 million in grants to support multicultural journalism on aging topics, including palliative care, SSI for impoverished elders, business innovations in the aging-boomer market, and care coordination for low-income seniors.
- Operating a journalism fellowship program that placed about 175 reporters in ethnic and mainstream media to cover aging issues and develop sources. Dozens more attended subject-focused media briefings.
Series on Financial Abuse
This series in U.S. News & World Report/New America Media by Michael O. Schroeder was written with the support of a journalism fellowship from New America Media, the Gerontological Society of America and the John A. Hartford Foundation. It provides information on the impact of financial abuse on victims and promising practices for helping victims recover.
This series in U.S. News & World Report/New America Media by Michael O. Schroeder was written with the support of a journalism fellowship from New America Media, the Gerontological Society of America and the John A. Hartford Foundation. It provides information on the impact of financial abuse on victims and promising practices for helping victims recover.
- Part 1: Financial Exploitation: When Taking Money Amounts to Elder Abuse (March 7, 2017)
- Part 2: The Mental and Physical Cost of Elder Financial Abuse (March 9, 2017)
- Part 3: Recovering From Trauma of Financial Elder Abuse—What to Do (March 14, 2017)