One of the organizers of the elder abuse outreach series says they see signs of progress appearing. The third in a series of workshops designed to raise awareness about abuse of vulnerable elderly and disabled Virgin Islanders took place Monday on St. Thomas.
Unlike the first two sessions involving law enforcement personnel and banking professionals, Monday’s workshop engaged seniors and their caregivers.
About 50 people gathered at a community center in Estate Donoe to learn more about elder abuse and exploitation, and to ask questions about what they had heard. The event was hosted by AARP of the Virgin Islands and the Human Services Department.
Participants were led through an exploration of elder abuse and the different ways it appears in the population. They heard from a banking executive about the warning signs of financial exploitation; they also heard from a representative from Legal Services of the Virgin Islands.
The elder justice series sprang from discussions among top government officials to tackle what some called a troubling trend of abuse and exploitation among the territory’s 22,000 residents aged 60 and over. They also took place as members of the 36th Legislature crafted Bill No. 36-0099 to improve the territory’s response to cases of elder abuse.
On Monday, the acting director of the Adult Protective Services Division said these ongoing discussions have been productive, reflected in the number of inquiries her office has received.
“It’s really information sharing and collaboration. And I believe that we’re making inroads,” said acting Director Heather Richardson-Henry. Officials speaking Monday said they would like to see workshops like these become an annual event.
