Partnership with Vermont 211. We’ve heard from older Vermonters (and organizations and individuals providing services to older Vermonters) that they often don’t know where to go with questions about what programs and services are available to them in the towns or regions where they live (from transportation to meal sites).

Vermont 2-1-1 is a program of the United Ways of Vermont that maintains a 24/7 hotline (2-1-1) and searchable online database to answer these exact kinds of questions. Thus, we’re collaborating with 2-1-1 to raise awareness about their valuable services and help them enhance their ability to assist callers with concerns regarding elder abuse and exploitation, in particular. Dial 2-1-1 or visit their website with your questions.

Collaborating with Senior Solutions. Recently, the Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont  (“Senior Solutions”) received a grant from the United States Department of Justice to train multi-disciplinary teams (including law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim service organizations) to combat abuse and exploitation of the aging population. The Vermont Attorney General’s Office is collaborating with Senior Solutions on this effort. First, through this federal grant, the AGO will receive training on the prosecution of elder abuse. Second, the AGO and Senior Solutions are exploring whether and how multi-disciplinary teams are a useful approach to elder protection, generally.

Listening Tour. The launch of the Elder Protection Initiative comes on the heels of a listening tour by AGO (and now EPI) staff, who (in April and May of 2018) visited Vermont’s 14 counties to listen to perspectives on older Vermonters’ greatest needs, concerns and vulnerabilities.

EPI staff met with dozens of older Vermonters at senior centers, senior meal sites and senior housing units, and met with approximately 230 representatives of 65 different organizations that serve older Vermonters, including the Area Agencies on Aging, SASH, Meals on Wheels, home health agencies, hospitals, Veterans Affairs, the VT Alzheimer’s Association, the Vermont Center For Aging, AARP-VT and Legal Aid, among others.

Want to learn more? Find out what people had to say on our listening tour.