13th Annual

William J. Neff Sr. Symposium

on the Prevention of

Crimes Against Older Adults

The Purpose

In September 2000, William J. Neff, Sr., an 83 year old man with Alzheimer's, residing at a  local personal care home, died as a result of five broken ribs and a punctured lung.  Following a two-year criminal investigation, a health care provider was charged with Murder and Neglect of a Care-Dependent Person.  In addition, the Administrator of the facility, the Director of Nursing, another resident assistant and a hospice nurse were criminally charged.

In 2003, all of the health care professionals were convicted of criminal  offenses stemming from Mr. Neff’s death.  As a result of the criminal case, the Bucks County Crimes Against Older Adults Task Force sponsors this annual symposium to bring together law enforcement officers, health care and social service professionals to provide education, heighten awareness and facilitate communication.

 

THIS IS A FREE EVENT.  REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO 300 PEOPLE.

 Agenda:

8:30 to 9:00                  Registration and Continental Breakfast                                         

9:00 to 9:15                  Welcome and Introductions

9:15 to 10:30               Keynote: Victims’ Mental Health and Elder Abuse

Presenter: Jo Anne Sirey, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in Department of Psychiatry at Weill Medical College and Associate Attending Psychologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

This talk will describe the research on victims’ mental health as it relates to abuse. It will review the literature on depression among victims and describe the impact of depression on interventions to resolve mistreatment. Finally, it will review the emerging evidence for a brief psychotherapy embedded in an elder abuse setting to improve both depression and elder abuse outcomes.

10:30-10:45                 Break

10:45-12:00                  Breakout  Sessions 1

A. Screening for depression among victims: Tools and implementation

Presenter: Jo Anne Sirey, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in Department of Psychiatry at Weill Medical College and Associate Attending Psychologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

This talk will focus on the detection of depression among victims. It will introduce and provide basic training in the use of the PHQ-9, a depression screening tool. It will include review of how depression can be integrated into elder abuse settings.

B. Animal Abuse, Animal Hoarding and Elder Abuse: Challenges and Strategies for Adult Protective Services

Presenter: Phil Arkow, Coordinator, National Link Coalition

The age-old concept that cruelty to animals often serves as an indicator and predictor of interpersonal, family, and community violence has particular relevance for APS, eldercare and social services agencies confronting elder abuse and animal hoarding situations. This presentation will describe The Link connecting animal abuse with elder abuse, domestic violence and child maltreatment, with a particular focus on animal hoarding by elders. It will explain the renaissance of academic research, public policy and organizational programming in these areas, with emphasis on specific strategies, animal-assisted interventions and best practices for providing more effective collaborative services that protect all victims of family violence.

12:00 to 12:45              Complimentary Luncheon 

1:00 to 2:15                   Breakout Session 2 

 A. The Graying of AIDS and Working with Older Adults

Presenter: Terri Clark, Coordinator of Prevention Services at ActionAIDS in Philadelphia.

In 2016, nearly half of those living with HIV in the U.S. will be at least 50 years of age, a proportion that is predicted to rise to 70% by 2020.  It is a notable shift from just 30 years ago when being diagnosed with HIV was a “death sentence”.  The “graying” isn’t just because people are living longer.   Some over 50 years of age continue to engage in high risk behaviors that result in new infections.  Further, there are older adults who are living with HIV and don’t know their status due to not being tested.  Chances are that aging service providers are already working with HIV+ clients and/or those who are at risk for HIV. 

This interactive training will cover a review of basic information about HIV, including transmission, prevention, and treatment, along with an overview of HIV and older adults.  Sexual health education/resources for older adults will also be shared.

B. Achieving An Emotional Sense of Direction:  A Response to Pervasive Societal Burnout

Presenter: SaraKay Smullens, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, BCD, CGP, CFLE

Burnout, one of the primary reasons why committed social workers leave the profession, is a grave and pervasive problem with glaring impact. Those entering social work and all related fields, as well as those already deeply involved, must be educated about its toll and prepared to address and prevent the depletion it causes. This workshop will address both burnout and self-care from a professional, personal, social, and physical perspective. The material will integrate research, case studies, questionnaire responses, and seasoned experience to identify three major root causes of burnout—compassion fatigue, countertransference, and vicarious trauma—and defines creative strategies for individual self-care opportunities. This training offers clarification, direction, and opportunity for reflection to help students and professionals in social work, related fields, and beyond find balance in their personal and professional lives as well as ease work-related stress to better serve clients—and, in this way, achieve professional equilibrium, success, and personal fulfillment.

 2:15 to 2:30                 Break 

 2:30 to 4:00                  Breakout Session 3 

A. Alcoholism in Later Life

Presenter: Cynthia Zubritsky, PhD, Director of Integrated Primary Care and Behavioral Health Initiatives; Senior Research Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are common but under recognized problems among older adults. One third of older alcoholic persons develop a problem with alcohol in later life, while the other two thirds grow older with the medical and psychosocial sequelae of early-onset alcoholism. The common definitions of alcohol abuse and dependence may not apply as readily to older persons who have retired or have few social contacts

B. Preventing Elder Investment Fraud: It Takes a Village

Presenter: Christina Kotsalos, Director, Investor Education and Consumer Outreach Office, PA Department of Banking and Securities

Research shows that elder Americans are at serious risk of be being victims of elder investment fraud, particularly those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).  The results of a recent national survey indicate that as many as 20% of older Americans have already experienced financial fraud or are very concerned about becoming victims of fraud. Learn how state securities regulators, senior service providers and adult protective services professionals are working together to protect older Americans from investment fraud and how law enforcement and others working on the front lines can get involved in the Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation prevention program.  The session will include:

1) the issue of elder financial exploitation including a short video on the topic,

2) the "Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation" prevention program,

3) the results of a recent national survey on elder investment fraud,

4) training, tools and resources available to all partners in protecting seniors from elder investment fraud.

 

4:00-4:15 Basket Raffles in Auditorium

Approval for Continuing Education Credits: 

5.0 CE credits SUBMITTED to the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors

5.0 CE credits SUBMITTED to the PA State Board of Nursing

 

5.0 CLEE hours SUBMITTED to the Municipal Police Officers' Education & Training Commission

 

5.0 CE credits SUBMITTED to The National Continuing Education Review Service (NCERS) of the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB)

 

5.0 CE credtis SUBMITTED to PA DHS for Personal Care Home Administrators

 

  

                                          

Thank You to Our 2016 Sponsors* and Host:

Bucks County Community College

Bucks County Area Agency on Aging

HCR ManorCare

Bucks County Long Term Care Consoritium

Bucks County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #53

Attleboro Community

                                                                                                               *as of 4/4/16

Register Now!