USA: Gerontologist Leads Fight Against Elder Abuse

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (University of Kentucky), February 18, 2008: A national organization dedicated to preventing elder abuse has elected a University of Kentucky gerontologist as its president, and she says Kentucky could soon lead the country in elder-abuse prevention, at a time when the issue is starting to get more attention and research funding at the federal level. Pamela Teaster, associate professor at UK's Graduate Center for Gerontology and Department of Health Behavior, assumed her duties as president of the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse on January 1, which coincided with the organization's 20th anniversary. "The timing could not be better," Teaster said. "Elder abuse is just now starting to get the kind of attention that child abuse started to get 30 years ago. As the Baby Boom generation matures into older age, we're starting to see real concern about this problem at the federal level for the first time. Resources are becoming available now that would have been unimaginable just 10 years ago. We have an opportunity to make great strides in ensuring the safety and well-being of some of our country's most vulnerable citizens." "NCPEA serves a clearing house for information and advocacy for elder abuse groups and researchers across the country, and it is a tremendous resource," Teaster said. "However, our resources are tiny compared to those of the federal government. Hopefully, with the bipartisan Elder Justice Act being reintroduced in Congress this year, we'll start to see some traction. Any movement at all by our elected leaders on the federal level would be a huge step forward." Source: University of Kentucky