Last month, Assistant Secretary for Aging and ACL Administrator Lance Robertson and Susan Lynch, Senior Counsel for Elder Justice for the Department of Justice, met with professionals involved in preventing and addressing elder abuse in their communities across the state of Maryland to hear about the issues and trends they are seeing in their work.Participants shared information about the types of allegations they investigate most often; the resources they need to effectively serve older adults experiencing abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and how the federal government can best coordinate to support their efforts.
This listening session, which was held at the Frederick County Government Center and which included a special emphasis on the unique challenges faced by rural communities, was the seventh of ten being held across the country to gather information to shape the work of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council.
After the listening session concluded, Administrator Robertson visited the ElderSAFE Center in Maryland, the first program of its kind in the Washington DC metropolitan area, which provides safe, temporary shelter to older adults experiencing elder abuse. Rona Kramer, Secretary of Aging for the state of Maryland, joined him on this visit. The ElderSAFE Center also provides holistic therapy, confidential counseling, medical services, legal referrals, and provides education on elder abuse within the community.
