Elder abuse includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse; financial exploitation; and neglect (including self-neglect). It is found in all communities and is not limited to individuals of any particular race, ethnic or cultural background or socio-economic status. Because it often is hidden and unrecognized, and because the definition of elder abuse varies from state to state, both the incidence and prevalence of elder abuse are difficult to articulate with great confidence. According to the best available estimates, between one and two million Americans aged 65 or older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone. Estimates on the frequency of elder abuse range from two per cent to ten per cent based on various sampling, survey methods, and definitions. Furthermore, it is estimated that for every one case of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self neglect reported to authorities, five others go unreported.
In 1995, New York state legislation established the Elderly Abuse Education and Outreach Program to provide education and outreach to the general public, including elderly persons and their families and caregivers in order to identify and prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The program includes two components: grants to local agencies to establish or expand upon existing local elder abuse education and outreach programs in their communities, and grants that are broad-based and have statewide focus, designed to support a statewide effort to increases awareness and prevention of elder abuse.
This program was first funded in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 1998-1999, and again in SFY 2000-2001. In SFY 2005-2006 and subsequent years, funding for this program has been awarded to the Monroe County Office for the Aging. The Monroe County Office for the Aging funds Lifespan to support their elder abuse education and outreach activities and service delivery for a ten-county region, as well as statewide efforts on elder abuse education and outreach, including support of the New York State Coalition on Elder Abuse that was formed as a result of the Statewide Summit convened by Lifespan in May, 2004.
During SFY 2006-2007:
