Mount Saint Mary College's Center on Aging and Disability Policy (CADP) was recently awarded a $20,000 grant from Orange County to expand the Elder Abuse Awareness Virtual Coalition.
The COVID-19 pandemic increased social isolation for everyone, but one group that was especially impacted were seniors. Many seniors, disconnected from relied-upon family and government assistance, found themselves at an even greater risk of being abused or taken advantage of.
Thus, the coalition was created in 2020 to serve the elder population by fostering public awareness about all forms of elder abuse. This is done via open discussion and the sharing of knowledge and resources. It covers topics including exercise, finances, neglect, self-awareness, and more.
One of the first actions of the coalition was to start a podcast, which is currently in its third season. All episodes – and more information about the Elder Abuse Awareness Virtual Coalition – can be found at www.eaavc.org.
The conversations are moderated by Elisa Gwilliam, founder of the Hudson Valley Healing Center, and hosted and facilitated by Lawrence T. Force (above), a Psychology professor at Mount Saint Mary College, and AnnMarie Maglione, director of Orange County Office for the Aging.
CADP is directed by Force and Jeffery Kahana (left), associate professor of History at the Mount.
Force, a gerontologist, has worked in the field of aging and disabilities for more than three decades as an administrator, clinician, and educator. He has authored and collaborated on books, articles, and technical reports that address topics of aging policy, Alzheimer's disease, family caregiving, and end-of-life care.
Kahana, in addition to teaching at the Mount and working with the Center on Aging and Disability Policy, is a prolific author on subjects ranging from academics to social issues in the United States.