On a visit to Telespond Senior Services in Scranton on Friday, Pa. Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich welcomed state, judicial and local leaders to a roundtable discussion on elder abuse victims, the work currently being done by the Department to protect older adults, and what the Commonwealth could do to keep seniors from becoming victims of abuse.
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SCRANTON — Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich said older Pennsylvanians have worked hard and have been active in their communities all their lives and they should live with the dignity and respect that they deserve.
“Yet we see far too many become victims of abuse or financial exploitation by a loved one or someone whom they know and trust,” Kavulich said.
On a visit to Telespond Senior Services in Scranton on Friday, Kavulich welcomed state, judicial and local leaders to a roundtable discussion on elder abuse victims, the work currently being done by the Department to protect older adults, and what the Commonwealth could do to keep seniors from becoming victims of abuse.
“By bringing together this group of like-minded leaders and experts, we can strengthen key partnerships and support innovative work being done in the Commonwealth,” Kavulich said. “These discussions allow us to focus on what we can do together and build upon the fresh perspectives changing the trajectory of elder abuse.”
Secretary Kavulich led the discussion with the goals of bringing an increased focus on older adult victims, prevention alternatives and best practice standards in guardianship cases, and an increased focus on aligning Pennsylvania’s practice with national policy standards.
Secretary Kavulich was joined by State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, Rep. Kyle Donahue and Rep. Kyle Mullins; and State Sen. Rosemary Brown. Also attending were Administrative Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas; and Judge Lois Murphy, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, both of whom serve in leadership positions on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Advisory Council on Elder Justice. Mark Powell, Lackawanna County District Attorney; Sara McDonald, Director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, and Amy Grevera, Acting Director at Telespond Senior Services, also participated.
Following the discussion, attendees toured and received an update on the construction of Telespond’s first-of-its-kind older adult advocacy center in the Commonwealth, specifically designed to serve older adults who are victims of abuse or neglect in Lackawanna and five surrounding counties.
Work began in the summer on the center, which will serve as a state and national model to assist elder abuse victims. The center will offer a person-centered multi-disciplinary approach to abuse investigations, care and treatment plans, and education for older adults while providing emergency respite and short-term transitional living space.
The center will include four bedroom units, along with a medical station, bathing accessibility, a lounge, kitchen area and laundry facilities for abuse victims.
The center will be connected to adult day and personal care services, senior companionship, legal services, transportation and more.
Pennsylvania’s Older Adult Protective Services Act (OAPSA) provides a framework for reporting elder abuse, receiving and investigating those reports, and planning to reduce risk to vulnerable older adults.
More than 35,000 investigations under OAPSA are completed annually in Pennsylvania.
If you suspect an older adult is the victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, call the Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s Protective Services Helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-490-8505.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.