Merry O’Brien Grant - PowerPoint Presentation

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Merry O’Brien Grant Administrator & Elder Justice Coordinator, NVRDC

2018 OVSJG Mass Disaster Training PanelWorking With Older Adults

March 2018Slide2

OverviewDC’s Older Residents – A Bit About ThemRealities & Perceptions of Older Adults That May Impact Crisis Situation

Special Considerations When Working with Older Adults in CrisisResources Available for Older SurvivorsCSlide3

Our Older Population70,568 District Residents are 65+Race:

61% African American, 4% Hispanic, 2% AsianWard: More elders in Wards 4 & 560% Female 56% Live alone – higher than nat’l avg60% Own home – lower than nat’l avg38% Higher Ed – higher than

nat’l avgNation’s largest ratio of GLBT seniorsPoverty: 1 in 4 seniors (26%) – highest in nationSlide4

Many Are Already Survivors1 in 10 physical elder abuse300/

yr report financial crime to MPD 50/yr receive SA exams at WHC4% of seniors are stalking victimsNot to mention victimizations that occurred prior to senior years…Slide5

Prior Life ExperiencesThis historical memory is more than a colorless photo to living/breathing humans among us today

Current issues echo or trigger past trauma – relive, recall these events“We survived that. We have the skills. Please ask us!”Slide6

Prior Life Experiences“After 9/11, I was asked to respond to a large number of senior high rises

and senior centers and received a very large number of crisis calls from elderly callers on the hotline. The unique thing to these people was the way this incident triggered memories of Pearl Harbor. A lot of Baby Boomers also called in with triggers to the Cuban Missile Crisis and the assassination of JFK.”Slide7

Special Considerations When Working with Older Adults in Crisis7

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A Word About Dementia

Group

of symptoms, not a diseaseTemporary dementias from: depression, medical conditions, trauma, lack of food, water, sleep, offender tactics, fatigue47% of seniors with dementia are abusedAlzheimer’s Disease: 1 in 8 over 65; 1 in 2 over 85Avoid assumptions but observe and reactContinuum of functionality

Sundowning

& sugar levelsSlide9

Other Factors at PlayPhysical limitations Elders perceptions of those in authority

English proficiency, deafness, use of assistive devices, inability to read or writeYour own assumptions based on age, race, ethnic background or sexual identityCultural traditions – learn as much as you can & respect them as much as possibleYour gender – may influence seniors’ decision to discuss difficult topics with you9Slide10

Disconnect Regarding the Roles of Social Media in Today’s Mass Violence

Do older people you know use….Social media to share photos of grandchildrenWebsites to find recipes for dinnerSmartphones simply to make phone calls?In aftermath on TV: “Investigators found xyz on shooter's FB page…” Or something more immediate: FL students filming on phones while the crisis is happening, or the criminal streaming something immediately before or after or even during the event. “I know many older  people who were horrified that students in FL were videoing themselves hiding from the shooter on their phones. They just do not understand how or why people would do that. How fast it all was up on Facebook and blowing up twitter even before the media was carrying it.”Confusion & leaving seniors behind in the news?Slide11

Technology in the AftermathYounger professionals may take it as a given – check on loved ones through tech and social media. Checking in on apps as “safe”Tweeting updates minute-by-minuteTexting when phone lines are down

For older adults, this may not be the primary means of communication. Who had an emergency radio growing up?Who called information & time?Who waited to hear news in the evening and trusted breaking news would appear if urgent?More attention given to helping older adults get in touch / check up on loved ones after an event. Slide12

Allow plenty of time - don’t try to do too much at onceWhen in doubt, meet in personFollow up proactivelySpeak at a measured pace – and say less!

Maintain facial contactOne topic at a timeAvoid or explain jargonPause & ask questions. Use paraphrasing to check accuracy.Help organize paperwork & identify others who can help prepare for the follow-upClose with recapLeave to-do lists/instructions in large fontSchedule follow-up services earlier in the day (but ask)

Effective CommunicationSlide13

Resources: Who’s Who in DC Senior Survivor Assistance13

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Friends & Family – Informal NetworksSocial WorkersLawyersContractors (Cleaning, Yard Work, Realtors, etc.)Home Health Aides

Powers of Attorney & Guardians/ConservatorsReligious Leaders – 50% of seniors attend weekly services & 88% identify as faith affiliatedA Unique Support NetworkSlide15

Network for Victim Recovery of DCDistrict’s Sexual Assault

Crisis Response (1 in 10 are seniors)Provides advocacy & legal representationAll services freeNo time limit202-742-1727BSlide16

202-434-2120

Legal HotlineConsumer Fraud & Financial Abuse Unit Take CPO cases from DC SAFE Listserv

Landlord Tenant Project – assists in self-neglect cases & has 2 full-time hoarding social workersPublic BenefitsWills & Powers of AttorneySenior Medicare PatrolOffice of the D.C. Long-Term Care OmbudsmanLegal Counsel for the ElderlyASlide17

Long Term Care Ombudsmen

Advocates for residents of facilities + those in home settings with a CNAEducates residents, families & communities on residents’ rights & quality care Collaborates on policy change to meet resident needsReceives & resolves complaints about careEnsures care is in accordance with DC & federal laws 202-434-2190Important role following a mass disaster ASlide18

How Ready Are Facilities?2,300 facility violations

re: emergency plans & readiness in past 4 years nationwideLong term care facilities required by law to have detailed emergency response plans in place, random drills, staff trainingKatrina exposed failures – 215 deaths of residentsCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sprung to action - developed checklists, websites for nursing homes, at-home, ombudsmenOIG Report asked is this enough – encouraged CMS & ACL to write more comprehensive rules in 2016ASlide19

Adult Protective ServicesTasked with receiving reports & investigating: 202-541-3950

 Then refers seniors to community organizations for services (house cleaning, health, etc.)Has funds for some temp hotel stays w/health aideCompetent adults may refuse help. APS may enter w/police to remove incapacitated senior. But APS has no custodial authority. Not equivalent to CPS. May petition court order for vulnerable adults who are abused, neglected, exploited. Can conduct capacity assessments.Case closed within 90 days

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Elder Shelter - Special NeedsSOME’s Kuehner House for Abused & Neglected

ElderlyWaiting list with priority for APS referralsElderSAFE In Rockville but accepts DC seniorsDistrict’s Alliance for Safe HousingZaneta Greene, Community Housing Resource Specialist –Elder Advocacy202-290-2356 ext. 105 or zgreene@dashdc.orgSlide21

Post - Disaster FraudSlide22

DC Office on AgingFunded by federal Health & Human Services (HHS)

Senior Centers in Every Ward (Iona, Seabury, East of the River, etc.)Employment TrainingCongregate & Home Delivered MealsTransportationTax PrepYard Clean-up Many other services, depending on the center! DC Office on Aging’s Call-In Line:202-724-5626Resource referrals, a listening ear, breaking down isolationMSlide23

Contact

Merry O’BrienGrants Administrator & Elder Justice CoordinatorNetwork for Victim Recovery of DCmerry@nvrdc.org