Post-Conference Review
Educating on Elder Care

Jennifer White, Attorney for Legal Programs with the Family Violence Prevention Fund and the lead attorney /curriculum writer for the Enhancing Judicial Skills in Elder Abuse Cases (a 3.5 day judicial education program that has been delivered nationally several times since 2007), led conference participants through the course offered by the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence.

Format for this Elder Abuse course, which is offered at no expense to judges by the Institute, is similar to the very successful Enhancing Judicial Skills in Domestic Violence courses that have been offered for the Institute for a number of years. Funding for the Elder Abuse course is similarly covered (except travel) for groups of up to fifty judges who hear such cases.

Ms. White very successfully taught attendees that adult protection services (APS), where many of these elder care cases originate, is just not “CPS for old folks”! APS (Elder Care) cases are based on incapacity of the party to be protected and those who are competent can refuse services. Judges need careful training to distinguish elder abuse cases since they present as many other different kinds of cases (e.g., criminal, civil, and even domestic violence). However, whereas APS can provide support and an array of service to an older victim, the victim’s consent is required unless the victim is legally incapacitated.

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