The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) are partnering during Identity Theft Awareness Week to present a free webinar about how to spot, avoid, and report identity theft. Learn more about:

• What is identity theft and how it happens

• How to protect yourself against identity theft 

• How to spot and avoid identity theft

• What to do if your identity is stolen

• Free tools to help you recover from identity theft 

  To join the webinar on Thursday January 30, 2025, at 12:00 pm ET:

  • URL: https://ftc.zoomgov.com/j/1616610224?pwd=7ryUbPEcFNdKkarWHkkGtyArgZBqfb.1

  • Webinar ID: 161 001 6975

  • Passcode: 237151

  • By phone:

  +1 646 828 7666 US (New York)

  +1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)

  +1 551 285 1373 US

  833 568 8864 US Toll-free

The Upstate Elder Abuse Center (UpEAC) at Lifespan is offering a FREE webinar featuring Dr. David Silbersweig from Harvard; How Music Resonates in the Brain. Back in 2020, UpEAC’s Scams & Fraud Program began offering a Name that Scam! educational program. Our colleagues at Wise & Healthy Aging in California (Miles McNeely – thank you!) did research and developed the program. For more about Wise & Healthy Aging, here is their site: https://www.wiseandhealthyaging.org/. Based off of that program, our team at UpEAC created several different playlists, including seasonal offerings, linking common scams to popular tunes. This fun and interactive game is not only entertaining – but also is based in research.

Our brains are quite amazing, and one thing that resonates across time & culture is music. Music has the power to evoke emotions, to provide us with a cathartic release, create the right mood for a movie, TV show, or the theater. Music connects us in super cool ways.

I’m thrilled to offer this webinar to you all, and would love for you to join Dr. Silbersweig and the folks here at UpEAC for this event. More information about the topic is here: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/12/harvard-scientist-on-why-that-song-is-stuck-in-your-head/.

CEUs are offered to LMSW and LCSWs in NYS.

Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers - #SW-0089

For more information contact Tracey Siebert-Konopko, LMSW tsiebert@lifespan-roch.org

Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan’s NYS E-MDT Initiative Webinar Series

Please join us as we conclude our in-depth look at the intersection of firearm safety and dementia. Part 1 focused on destigmatizing crucial conversations with individuals living with dementia and their caregivers regarding firearm safety. Part 2 will cover laws related to firearms, safe storage of firearms and legacy planning of these firearms.

Presenters:

Corey Nichols-Hadeed, JD, Co-Director of the Firearm Injury Prevention Program, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC)

Jennifer West, PhD, Co-Director of the Firearm Injury Prevention Program, URMC

Eric Perkins, Deputy, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Firearms Investigation Coordinator

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) Office for Older Americans is offering new webinars on protecting older adults from financial exploitation. The 2025 series includes:

Check fraud is a big problem nationwide, with more than $688 million in reported suspicious activity in a recent six-month period. Check fraud is an especially significant threat to older adults, three quarters of whom report using checks.

The webinar will feature presentations by experts from the Federal Trade Commission, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that will provide professionals with information to protect older adults from check fraud.

Register today for the series. You will receive electronic invitations to all events within two business days of completing the form.

A CDC report found that approximately 2 in 5 adults age 65 or older are living with a disability, but they remain largely invisible to society at large, and victim response systems in particular. Older adults with disabilities face a greater risk of serious violent crime and other forms of abuse than their counterparts. Despite growing public awareness of the prevalence of abuse, the victimization of older adults with disabilities is often ignored. These older adults face formidable barriers to getting the services and support they need to heal and seek justice.

To work to bridge this gap and address this important need, Activating Change and the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) are partnering to provide a webinar and “ask the expert” session on Risk Factors and Safety Strategies for Abuse in Later Life at the Intersection of Aging and Disabilities.

Speakers include: Leslie Myers (Senior Program Associate and Access Coordinator, Activating Change) and Victoria Ferguson-Young (Victim Services Coordinator, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life)

Family violence and abuse in later life is a pervasive and challenging issue affecting millions of older adults throughout the country each year. Because such abuse often goes unreported, it is important for legal service providers and other professionals working with older survivors of abuse to understand and recognize the types of abuse and common tactics used by those who cause harm to assert power and control over older adults.

This training will explore ways that legal assistance, elder rights, and aging services professionals can work with older survivors or abuse in later life, which includes using a person-centered approach, implementing trauma-informed practices, and strategies for preventing further harm from occurring. Presenters will also provide information and resources for working with older survivors of abuse, which includes the benefits of collaborating with local service providers and community organizations.

Presenters include Candace Heisler (Retired Assistant District Attorney, San Francisco, Heisler & Associates), Ann E. Laatsch (Justice System Coordinator, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life [NCALL]), & Erica Costello (Senior Attorney, ABA Commission on Law & Aging)

NAPSA’s Monthly National Scam Advice Forum:

Dr. Stacy Wood will share her insights on working with victims of frauds, specifically the psychological effects and tactics used by fraud criminals from both an academic/researcher and practitioner in the field of financial exploitation and fraud against older adults, using a case example.

Dr. Stacey Wood, Ph.D., ABPP is the Molly Mason Jones Professor of Psychology at Scripps College in Claremont, CA and is board certified in Geropsychology. Her research has examined factors that increase susceptibility in fraud victims, tactics that are commonly employed by scammers, and the psychological effect of these crimes on the victims with an emphasis on elderly victims.

The program will address the role of the National Guardianship Association’s (NGA) Standards of Practices and supported decision-making and other options. It will cover options to consider as an alternative to guardianship, less restrictive options to consider, assessing capacity and how one can combine options.

Speakers are Erica Costello (Senior Attorney, ABA Commission on Law & Aging) and Elizabeth Russo (Senior Attorney, ABA Commission on Law & Aging)

This session will discuss some of the initial steps a service provider or advocate may want to take when encountering older fraud victims: reporting to law enforcement and trying to recover funds.  We all know reporting fraud to law enforcement is critical but it can be daunting for older people who experienced fraud. This session will discuss the how and why of reporting. Presenters will discuss reasons why someone may be reluctant to report, how to help someone report, and the kind of information that can helpful to include in a report.  It will also provide insight into why reports matters and how they are used at a macro and micro level to assist law enforcement and public education efforts. The presentation will also discuss what service providers and advocates should know about how to attempt to help victims recover funds stolen by fraudsters, including specific tips based on unique payment types like wires, credit cards, gift cards, etc.

Presenters include: Jacqueline Blaesi-Freed (Assistant Director, Consumer Protection Branch, U.S. Dept. of Justice), Dani Kaiserman (Elder Justice Staff Attorney, Bet Tzedek Legal Services), Erin Kee (Aging Program Specialist, Office of Elder Justice and APS, Administration on Aging Administration for Community Living, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services), Kate Kramer (Older Americans Policy Analyst, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office for Older Americans), and Rachel Yurkovich (Management & Program Analyst, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Internet Crime Complaint Center)

Offered by the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health

Preventing and addressing elder abuse and building resilience in older adults requires a person-centered and trauma-informed approach. Older adults are exposed to multiple types of traumas over the lifetime as well as older adult-specific traumas, including the loss of spouse/partner, social isolation, chronic illness or disability, change in living environment, and elder abuse. Trauma affects individuals in different ways. This panel webinar will discuss the cumulative and complex trauma histories of diverse older adults, how trauma relates to elder abuse, and strategies to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed support.

Speakers include: Laura Mosqueda (National Center on Elder Abuse at the Keck School of Medicine of USC), Sherrill Wayland (SAGE), Donna Benton (Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center), Lauren Pongan (Diverse Elders Coalition), Elizabeth Avent (USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology), and Lori Smetanka (National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care)

June 15th, 2023 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). In this episode of LIVE with Greg, NYSOFA observes WEAAD in a conversation with NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen and experts from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Lifespan, and the New York City Elder Abuse Center. They’ll discuss ways to recognize signs of abuse, its prevalence, and resources for getting help.

Guests include: Shelly Aubertine-Fiebich (Director, Bureau of Adult Services, NYS Office of Children and Family Services), Ann Marie Cook (President and CEO, Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc.), and Tina Janssen-Spinosa (Manager, E-MDT, New York City Elder Abuse Center at Weill Cornell Medicine)

In honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th, Lifespan is hosting an in-person conference in Rochester, NY. This conference is all about educating professionals on how better to assess and engage older adults in conversations about their sexual health and wellbeing. Sexual assault is the least commonly reported form of elder abuse, largely because of the stigmas and shame surrounding it, but also because many folks simply don’t have the tools to talk about it. This conference will help shift our focus to provide more thorough care to those who have taken care of us.

A free lunch buffet will be available, as well as coffee throughout the day. Lunch will be a salad bar with separated fixings and sides to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free needs.

Questions? Contact Emily Rozek (erozek@lifespan-roch.org) or Tracey Siebert-Konopko (tsiebert@lifespan-roch.org).

Licensed social workers are eligible for 4.5 CEUs for attending the event.

Elder abuse, which can be physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or exploitation, is often a silent problem that affects 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 60. It is often committed by a caretaker or family member where there is an expectation of trust. Approximately 60% of elder abuse and neglect incidents are perpetrated by a family member. This abuse robs older adults of their safety, dignity, and security, especially their financial security.

This webinar will cover:

• Issues with powers of attorney and joint bank accounts

• Legal recourse to financial exploitation

• Basics of ownership interests in property

• Strategies for removing an abuser

Presenters include Jeffrey P. Nieznanski, Esq., Supervising Attorney at Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. and Sarah Duval, Esq., Supervising Attorney at Center for Elder Law & Justice

The webinar in the Closing the Justice Gap for Older Adults training series will explore how Adult Protective Series (APS) and civil legal aid can work together to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation and how a broad range of civil legal remedies empowers restoring agency to older adults who have experienced maltreatment and reduces risk of reoccurrence.

1 in 10 older adults are estimated to experience elder abuse, and legal aid attorneys may see these cases come through their doors in a variety of ways. APS has access to unique tools and resources, and collaborative approaches can strengthen responses to abuse. Presenters will share how elder abuse can present in common legal aid cases, an overview of who APS can help, what issues they can help with, and the programs and services APS can provide, ethical considerations when working with APS, such as the concepts of mandatory and permissive reporting, and privacy and confidentiality rules for APS and legal aid, and examples of collaborations with APS, legal services, and other aging services providers that leverage all community resources to address issues of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

This year, experience the New York City Elder Justice Conference in an innovative way. After the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to take stock of the present and look towards the future of Elder Justice. Collaboratively, we will create a plan to bring together all we have learned about aging, equity, social determinants of health, and restorative justice. We will then identify best practices that allow us to serve older adults better than ever before.

To do this, we need YOU. We need to summon your energy, experience, and talent. After the keynotes from Juanita Davis and Christina Peoples, join us for facilitated breakout sessions to generate and foster discussion and determine our future goals. Through collaborative discussions, we will explore the current status of Elder Justice and develop a pathway forward to ensure Elder Justice for current and future generations of older adults.

Cost: $100 per person

Central NY Elder Justice Coalition, Annual Elder Abuse Conference, The Future Direction of Elder Justice: Advocacy, Equity, and Inclusion. Morning sessions include LGBTQIA Advocacy and Elder Abuse, Abuse in Later Life 101, and Intergenerational Connections for At-Risk Individuals and Families. Afternoon sessions include Social Isolation, the Pandemic, and Adult Vulnerability, Capacity and Competence 101, and Restorative Justice and Elder Abuse.

The conference takes place at the DoubleTree Hotel, located at 6301 Route 298, East Syracuse, NY 13057 and is not a free event.

Join the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the National Center for Victims of Crime for this free webinar. You’ll learn about the Recovering from Elder Financial Exploitation report, a financial recovery framework explaining how and when older adults get money back after financial exploitation. Topics include identifying, reporting, and investigating elder fraud and returning funds to victims.

Panelists include: Rachel Gibson, M.S. (Director of the Center for Victim Service Professionals at the National Center for Victims of Crime), Hector L. Ortiz, Ph.D. (Senior Policy Analyst at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office for Older Americans), and Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, J.D. (Senior Policy Analyst at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office for Older Americans)

Led by Tracey Siebert-Konopko, LMSW, we will discuss the types of abuse, red flags of each type, potential interventions for each type, and whom to call for more help. Open to anyone working with older adults. ASL available information.

1.5 contact hours for CEUs are available for LM- and LCSWs. Lifespan of Greater Rochester SW CPE isrecognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social work as an approvedprovider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0089.

Learn about current scams and how you can protect yourself from financial fraud with representatives from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Panelists include: John Dugan (Associate Regional Director, Enforcement SEC, Boston Regional Office), Kevin Sheahan (Supervisory Special Agent, FBI, Boston Field Office), and Erin Scheithe (Content and Outreach Specialist, CFPB, Office for Older Americans)

This webinar will discuss long-term services and support, including nursing home debt collection and financial caregiving. Carefully choosing a financial caregiver and long-term care can help prevent elder financial exploitation.

Speakers include: Naomi Karp (Consultant, Aging, Law, & Policy) and Lisa Weintraub Schifferle (Senior Policy Analyst, CFPB’s Office for Older Americans)

Moderator: Paul Greenwood, Former Deputy District Attorney in charge of elder abuse prosecutions, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

This program will focus on extremely common scams such as tech support scams and grandparent/family scams, and will cover how frequent these are, how they work and who is behind them, and steps the public can take to avoid them.

Please bring your challenging cases with victims involved in these types of scams and other scams to discuss with the group and share various approaches. Those wishing to email their cases ahead of time for discussion during the forum should email info@NAPSA-NOW.org.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau presents: Age-Friendly Banking and Opportunities for Collaboration.

Learn how age-friendly banking initiatives can work with elder fraud prevention and response networks. This webinar will include discussion of:

• How financial institutions work with their communities to prevent elder fraud

• How the Community Reinvestment Act intersects with elder justice 

• Trusted contacts and suspicious activities reports

Speakers include: Jenefer Duane (CFPB), Katelyn Kramer (CFPB), and Jennell Huff (Bank of the Rockies)

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau presents: Who’s Who in Elder Justice Networks.

Many types of professionals come together to effectively prevent and respond to elder financial exploitation. This webinar will introduce you to people and teams that can bring your efforts to the next level:

• Case review teams – what they are and what they do

• Key players at the national, state, and regional level—including elder justice coordinators, the Social Security Office of Inspector General, and state regulators—who can support local efforts to prevent and respond to elder financial exploitation

Speakers include: Jenefer Duane (CFPB), Talitha Guinn-Shaver (US Department of Justice), Brian McDonough (Elder Justice Coordinator for the Northern District of Ohio), and Michael McGill (Special Agent in Charge in Philadelphia, Social Security Office of Inspector General)