California Elder Abuse Statewide Summit    

Successful Summit, More to Come...

On April 29 & 30, 2010, delegates from across the elder abuse and aging and adult services spectrum gathered in San Francisco to discuss, strategize and collaborate on recommendations and next steps for California's Elder Abuse Blueprint. Delegates prepared for the Summit by reviewing background materials and helped prioritize critical issues and promising solutions. Following the event, delegates will be asked to review summit findings and assist in the development of the statewide blueprint. 

In the coming weeks, look for posted materials developed during the summit as the CEJW continues to engage delegates and the aging services network in the blueprint development process.

After Summit Follow-up Materials  

• Summit Commitments - Delegates are encouraged to review the list of commitments and comment on their progress to date. Check back often for new updates.

•  Summit Small Group Session Minutes - Concise summaries of presentations, issues, best practices and recommendations made in the small group sessions. Delegates are encouraged to review minutes from all four small groups.
• Safeguarding the Long-Term Care Safety Net (PDF) 
• Reporting and Response (PDF) 
• Justice System's Response (PDF) 
• Financial Abuse and Exploitation (PDF) 
  

• Summit Photos - Highlighting the work, relationships and synergy created by the Summit and the hardworking delegates, facilitators, speakers and volunteers.

• Summit Presentation - Bill Benson's Keynote PowerPoint on elder rights and the Older American's Act (OAA).

Summit Materials

• Full Agenda
• At-a-Glance Agenda
• Background Materials
• Speaker Bios
• Delegate Bios

Summit Description

The Summit  provided opportunities for delegates to engage in in-depth discussion with colleagues and learn more about promising practices in elder abuse prevention. Delegates participated in one of four tracks:

1. California’s Abuse Reporting and Response Systems: Defining Roles and Balancing Mandates; 

2. Safeguarding the Long-Term Care (LTC) Safety Net: Exploring Ways that the Elder Abuse Prevention Network can work with other providers of LTC services to improve access, safety, and fairness;  

3. Financial Abuse and Exploitation: Serving the Victims of 21st Century Financial Crimes; or

4. Enhancing the Legal System’s Response to Elder Abuse.

Plenary sessions were planned to help inform group discussions and learn more about national initiatives.  Distinguished speakers included:

• Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, former Kansas Secretary of Aging, and former Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman;

• Mariko Yamada, CA Assembly Member, Chair of the Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee;

• Bill Benson, National Policy Advisor to the National Association of Adult Protective Services, former Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging, former staff member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and former State Long-Term Care Ombudsman of California; and

• Daniel C. Marson, J.D, Ph.D, Professor of Neurology, Director of the Division of Neuropsychology, and Director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
• Iris Freeman, MSW, Center for Elder Justice and Policy, William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota;
• Helen Karr, JD, San Francisco District Attorney's Elder Abuse Unit and long-time Elder Abuse Advocate.

Other plenary sessions  included:

• Elder Abuse Policy Comes of Age

• Assessing Decision-Making Capacity: Clinical and Legal Perspectives

• Forensics Centers

 For more information, contact calejworkgroup@gmail.com

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