December 2007

Lifespan Receives $194,000 Grant to Conduct a Statewide Elder Abuse Prevalence Study

Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc. was recently awarded a $194,000 grant to conduct a statewide elder abuse prevalence study. The project is a partnership between Lifespan, the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC DFTA), and Cornell University. Principal investigators will be Mark Lachs, MD (Cornell) and Jackie Berman, PhD, (DFTA).

This will be the first in-depth, statewide study of elder abuse prevalence in the nation. The project is funded, in part, through the New York State Children and Family Trust Fund, a program administered under the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.

Info about Elder Abuse in our Community: In 2006, in Lifespan’s ten-county service area:

80% of our clients were women.

70% were age 75 or older.

Financial abuse occurred in 40% of cases.

Neglect occurred in 11% of cases.

Physical abuse occurred in 7% of cases.

Psychological abuse occurred in 33% of cases.

Who are the perpetrators of elder abuse?

Sons: 29%

Daughters: 20%

Other family: 15%

Not related: 21%

Where do victims of elder abuse live?

41% resided within the City.

59% resided outside the City.

In 2006, Lifespan investigated 348 cases of elder abuse.

Experts estimate that only 1 in 14 cases are known to authorities.

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