Perhaps it is due to growing up in a family where both parents were lawyers. Perhaps it was serving as the first chair of the APA ad hoc Committee on Legal Issues (COLI). More likely, it was profoundly enjoying Laugh-In. For whatever reason, like former Division President Andy Benjamin, I have always been impressed by the commonality of interest between psychology and the legal profession. The needs of psychology's patients often parallel those of the attorney's clients. In 2008, the first Veteran's court was established in Buffalo in an attempt to seriously address this interface. Former Massachusetts Psychological Association President and APA President Ron Levant heralded this transformative movement. At the national level, APA and ABA cosponsor impressive conferences. Another former APA President Don Bersoff, the association's first General Council, noted that by 2013, APA had submitted 147 amicus briefs, 58 of which were filed in the U.S. Supreme Court. Why don't we hear about more state psychological associations working collaboratively with their local state bar associations?
The FY' 2016 budget for the HHS Administration for Community Living (ACL) proposes to prevent, detect, and respond to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. As the population of older Americans increases, these problems continue to grow. Yet, there is no single set of national elder abuse prevalence data. A 2004 national survey of State Adult Protective Service programs showed a 16% increase in the number of elder abuse cases from an earlier 2000 study. Estimates are that 84% of all elder abuse incidents go unreported. The most recent data suggest that at least 10%, approximately 5 million older Americans, experience abuse each year, many in multiple forms.
The Administration reports extensive negative effects of abuse, neglect, and exploitation on the health and independence of seniors. Older victims of even modest forms of abuse have dramatically higher (300%) morbidity and mortality rates than non-abused older individuals. Adverse health impacts include an increased likelihood of heart attacks, dementia, depression, chronic diseases and psychological distress. As a result, a growing number of seniors access the healthcare system and are ultimately forced to leave their homes and communities prematurely.
ACL envisions building a foundation and establishing best practices for States to expand and improve the protection of elderly individuals living in their communities and in long-term care settings; increase the information and technical assistance available; protect the rights of older adults and prevent their exploitation; and reduce health-care fraud and abuse. Its Ombudsman Program relies heavily upon volunteers who make up the bulk of those who resolve resident issues. The landscape is changing as individuals in need of long-term care services and supports increasingly choose to live in community settings. Fortunately there is a growing federal awareness of the uncharted area of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults and persons with disabilities. These challenges must be effectively addressed. We would rhetorically ask: What better topic for a joint conference or dinner discussion between our local state psychological and bar associations? Aloha,
Pat DeLeon, former APA President – Division 31 – March, 2015
