New York City Elder Abuse Network

N Y C E A N

New York City Elder Abuse Network

PRESS RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Deirdre Lok, Esq. Co-Chair of NYCEAN

718-581-1843 or

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Recognition

NYCEAN Joins with Elected Leaders to Launch Web Site and Announces Art Contest Winner

New York, NY – On June 15th from 10:30 to 11:30am The New York City Elder Abuse Network (NYCEAN) will host a press conference in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) at the Carter Burden Center for the Aging, located at 351 East 74th Street, in Manhattan. WEAAD was launched in 2006 by the United Nations with the goal of raising awareness and understanding of elder abuse in communities worldwide.

During the press event NYCEAN will launch its website which will serve as a resource and connection point for professionals who are working with older adults city wide. The site will include a guide for elder-abuse related services, including resources for immigrant communities, and information about the organization and its members. NYCEAN will also announce the winners of its art contest ‘What does elder abuse mean to you?’ held in recognition of WEAAD. Winning submissions will be displayed on the NYCEAN website.

Guest speaker Council Member Jessica Lappin, Chair of the New York City Council Committee on Aging, will speak about the prevalence of elder abuse within the New York City community as well as about her work on political initiatives geared toward combating this pervasive problem. Council Member Lappin is a leader in the fight against elder abuse and has held public hearings to review this horrific issue.

“NYCEAN is committed to increasing the discussion, and awareness of elder abuse as well as connecting seniors, professionals, elected leaders and the New York City community to combat this issue,” said Deirdre Lok, Esq., Counsel for the Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale and Co-Chair of NYCEAN.

The first place winner of the art contest, Robert Scott, a 77 year old art instructor from Brooklyn, NY spoke with other seniors while creating his artwork. “My participation in this art contest showed me that elder abuse is not only physical, but includes financial and mental abuse,” stated Scott. “It is my hope that my artwork brings attention to this growing epidemic.”

NYCEAN is sponsoring several initiatives culminating on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, all with the goal of furthering the network’s mission to strengthen partnerships to promote advocacy, education and services to prevent and address elder mistreatment. For more information on this or other NYCEAN events, please contact the Network’s co-chairs: Deirdre Lok, Esq. (718) 581-1843, ; or Janet Lessem, LMSW, (347) 296-1948, .

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