Each year, about one in six older adults experience abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Yet there are few options for older adults who can no longer safely stay in their homes or communities. Of the one in six adults older than 60 who experience elder abuse or mistreatment, up to nearly half will continue to be abused even after seeking help. Weinberg Foundation grantee and long-standing partner—The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Justice at the Hebrew Home in Riverdale (the Weinberg Center) is a national model for protecting older adults from abuse.
To shed light on the potential benefits of this innovative model, the RAND Corporation undertook an initial evaluation of the Weinberg Center. The evaluation drew on an analysis of data collected by the Weinberg Center, including client data upon entry and discharge, interviews with Weinberg Center staff, and a literature review. This combination of data was used for a preliminary exploration of the impact of residence in the Weinberg Center on client outcomes. The findings offer hope that the shelter model can be a scalable, replicable, and cost-efficient solution to address the growing needs of older adults experiencing abuse.
The Weinberg Foundation supports capital projects serving older adults nationally, not limited to its priority communities. These include projects that build dedicated shelter space for older adults in partnership with the SPRiNG Alliance. The SPRiNG Alliance offers membership to elder abuse shelters nationwide, as well as to communities working towards creating shelter. While each member is unique in its exact structure and phase of operation, its members are united by their commitment to filling a critical gap in service by providing short term shelter to people who experience elder abuse.
You can read the full evaluation here.
