In recognition of the 8th annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Bristol Elder Services, Inc. (BES) and the Southeastern Alliance for Elders (SAFE) hosted a conference, entitled "STOP Elder Bullying" on Thursday, June 13th, at White’s of Westport. Bullying exists not just among the young; many elders also experience this devastating assault on their dignity. They may be bullied by family members, caregivers meant to help them, or their peers.  According to the AARP Bulletin (March 2012), “between 10 and 20 percent of residents in senior care homes are mistreated by peers ... nationwide that translates to hundreds of thousands of people who endure abuse.  Many incidents of name-calling, bossy behavior, loud arguments and, at its most extreme, physical violence go unreported.”  Keynote speaker, Jean Benson Bernstein, drew on her extensive experience in elder residential services to address the issue. The conference will included a panel with representatives from the Office of Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter and South Coastal Counties Legal Services who addresses the civil and criminal aspects of elder bullying. BES is the local resource for seniors who are abused, neglected, exploited, or self-neglecting.  The agency is responsible for Protective Services in the twenty-three communities in greater Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton. Click here for a 3-minute video of the conference. Click here for the Standard-Times article. For more information about BES, contact Trish Hunter at 508-675-2101.

(Top row) Lisa Ouellette-Kurowski introduces Paul Machado from the Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter and Keynote Speaker Jean Benson Bernstein. (Middle row, left) Bristol Elder Money Management Program Director Jan Bergeron talks with Robert Cormier of the DA's Office. (Middle row, right) Active Day of Fairhaven Center Director Barbara Southall speaks with Rick Ferreira, Director of the Taunton Emergency Management Office. (Bottom row, left) Fall River Council on Aging Director Pauline Gousie, left, looks over some of the literature.) (Bottom row, right) Lorraine Thompson of the Rochester Council on Aging speaks with Program Director Michelle Tavares of the Adult Day Health Care facilities in Fall River. (Bottom row, center) Members of the conference planning committee pose for a group photo.