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Elder abuse survey goes live in Boulder County

Boulder County’s Elder Justice Coalition is studying elder abuse in the community.
Matt Maenpaa
Matt Maenpaa
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An elderly hand reaching out for an infant.Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

Boulder County’s Elder Justice Coalition is studying elder abuse in the community.

In November 2020, the Boulder County Elder Justice Coalition received a federal training grant through the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women as part of efforts to combat elder abuse. 

The coalition is deciding how to utilize the funds by asking for community participation through a survey. The survey on elder abuse is live from the Elder Justice Coalition, or EJC, and Boulder County Area Agency on Aging, or BCAAA.

“Broadly, the intent of the grant is to collaboratively address elder abuse through education and training of community professionals working with older adults, law enforcement, prosecutors and judges across Boulder County,” said Erica Corson, elder rights program manager for BCAAA.

The survey focuses on community access to resources, personal experiences with elder abuse and standard demographics information. Questions in the survey address access to resources for elders, including agencies and informational services for their well-being. 

“The EJC has been planning for implementation of this program for months,” Corson said. “As part of the grant, the EJC is completing the community needs assessment to better understand current gaps in services and needs of the community.”

According to the BCAAA, an estimated 5 million elders are abused, neglected or exploited in the United States each year.. The Adult Protective Services division of Colorado’s Department of Human Services receives more than 25,000 reports of mistreatment and neglect each year, according to the website.

In 2014, Colorado passed a law requiring the mandatory reporting of elder abuse. The law requires social workers and other professionals to report instances of abuse, neglect and mistreatment when they become aware of it. 

Community members looking for more resources and information on elder abuse in Boulder County can find them through Boulder County Adult Protection and Senior Services, BCAAA’s Elder Rights Program, and the Community Protection Division of the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.

Results from the survey are expected by Fall 2021.