|
Assistant Secretary for Aging Lance Robertson greets Assistant
Secretary for Health ADM Brett P. Giroir
EJCC: Advancing
Elder Justice in Rural and Tribal Communities
By Lance Robertson, ACL Administrator and Assistant
Secretary for Aging
What is the point of offering the highest quality medical care
or support services if they cannot be accessed by those who need them the
most?
This was the question posed by Dr. Jason Burnett of The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston during today’s meeting
of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC),
which I had the privilege of chairing. The EJCC brings together leaders
from across the federal government to address issues of elder justice
nationally. Council members include the leaders of federal departments,
agencies, and entities administering programs related to elder abuse,
neglect, and exploitation.
Today's meeting focused on the unique challenges to advancing
elder justice in rural and tribal communities. Last month, I had the
privilege of participating in the Department of Justice's Rural and
Tribal Elder Justice Summit in Des Moines, IA which provided
important context and information for today's discussion. Americans in
rural communities often face greater risk of isolation and have access to
fewer support services.
Dr. Burnett highlighted the emerging role of tele-health and
tele-medicine in helping people in rural communities access medical and
social support services. For example, the TEAM- Forensic Assessment Center
Network allows Houston-based geriatric and elder abuse experts to connect
with Adult Protective Services (APS) caseworkers and their clients across
the state. One key to the program's success is the use of virtual in-home
client assessments conducted via Apple's FaceTime service. The Department
of Veterans Affairs is also taking advantage of technology to allow older
veterans to access their Gerifit exercise program virtually.
The committee also received an update on the opioid crisis and
its impact on older adults from HHS Assistant Secretary for Health ADM
Brett P. Giroir. ADM Giroir described the opioid epidemic as "the most
important and challenging public health crisis of our time" and noted
that it effects Americans of all ages. ADM Giroir also reviewed the five point
plan announced by Pres. Trump to combat opioid abuse, misuse, and overdoses
and spoke about the importance of addressing inappropriate prescribing in a
way that does not deny necessary medications to those experiencing pain.
The connection between elder justice and topics like the
opioid epidemic and tele-medicine may not be obvious at first glance, but
we know that the factors that contribute to elder abuse are complex, and
our response to it must be multi-faceted. Over the coming weeks we will be
asking you to share your thoughts on the EJCC’s priorities moving forward.
I hope you will share your perspectives and experiences with us.
I am encouraged by the growing recognition of elder abuse as a
problem we must all work together to end. On Friday, the front page of USA
Today highlighted
new data on elder abuse from ACL's National Adult Maltreatment
Reporting System, and this summer, the Senior Safe Act became law. The new
law encourages financial institutions to report suspected abuse to the
proper state or federal law enforcement authorities with the promise of
immunity for those who undergo training and report suspect elder financial
exploitation in good faith.
I am heartened by the work that my colleagues across the
federal government, and so many dedicated front-line professionals, are
doing to advance elder justice. Thank you for standing up for the right of
all Americans to live with dignity at any age.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment