ELDER JUSTICE Resource Guide
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ELDER JUSTICE resource guide DIVISION of POLICY and PLANNING STATE OF NEW YORK UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM 25 BEAVER STREET NEW YORK, NY 10004 (212) 428-2130 FAX (212) 428-2192 HON. LAWRENCE K. MARKS HON. SHERRY KLEIN HEITLER (RET.) Chief Administrative Judge Interim Dean, NYS Judicial Institute The Judges and staff of the New York State Unified Court System fully recognize the need to identify and prevent elder abuseThe Judges and neglect. and staff It is soof importantthe New Yorkthat everyone State Unified who works Court in Systema New York fully State recognize the courtroomneed understands to identify how and pervasive prevent this elder issue abuse is and and knows neglect. how It to is respond so important should that they everyone become aware who works that an elderin persona New is York being Stateabused courtroom or neglected. understands Part of this how is knowing pervasive what this resources issue isand and support knows how to services arerespond available should to address they thebecome complex aware issues that regarding an elder elder person abuse is detectionbeing abused and diagnosis. or neglected. Part of This Elderthis Justice is knowing Resource what Guide resources includes andinformation support aboutservices elder are abuse available and neglect, to address including the complex their indicators,issues the relevant regarding criminal elder and abuse civil detection laws that mayand diagnosis.apply, articles that address normal age-related mental, physical andThis emotional Elder Justice changes, Resource and guidance Guide relating includes to informationbenefits and aboutentitlements elder abusefor the andspecial neglect, needs of olderincluding adults. theirThe Guide indicators, also includes the relevant a comprehensive criminal anddirectory civil oflaws national that andmay state apply, services, articles that as well as aaddress directory normal of local age programs-related inmental, each of physical our thirteen and Judicialemotional Districts. changes, Any and questions guidance about relating the to services eachbenefits program and offers entitlements should be fordirected the special to the agencies needs ofthemselves older adults. using theThe contact Guide information also includes a provided incomprehensive the Guide. directory of national and state services, as well as a directory of local programs in each of our thirteen Judicial Districts. Any questions about the services each program offers I want to extendshould my be deepest directed appreciation to the agencies to The Harrythemselves and Jeanette using Weinbergthe contact Center information for Elder providedJustice at in the the HebrewGuide. Home at Riverdale for collaborating with the Office of Policy & Planning in the production of this Guide. In particular I must thank the Weinberg Center’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Reingold, Esq.,I want and to its extend Director my anddeepest Managing appreciation Attorney, to JoyThe Solomon, Harry and Esq. Jeanette I also wantWeinberg to thank Center for Elder Justice at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale for collaborating with the Office of Policy & Hon. Deborah A. Kaplan who chairs the New York State Judicial Committee on Elder Justice for her Planning in the production of this Guide. In particular, I must thank the Weinberg Center’s efforts in championing the review of elder justice issues in our legal system. Stephanie Neville, Esq., President and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Reingold, Esq., and its Director and Managing a consultant with the Unified Court System’s Office of Policy and Planning, and Rebecca Thomforde Attorney, Joy Solomon, Esq. I also want to thank Hon. Deborah A. Kaplan who chairs the New Hauser of theYork Center State for Judicial Court Innovation, Committee were on Elderalso very Justice instrumental for her effortsin the preparation in championing and realization the review of of this Guide.elder I thank justice them issues both in for our their legal hard system. work. Stephanie Neville, Esq., a consultant with the Unified I hope youCourt find this System’s Guide toOffice be a usefulof Policy tool inand serving Planning, our common Rebecca goal Thomforde to do justice Hauser for those of the Center for who have experiencedCourt Innovation, elder abuse and andNick neglect. Inverso, Together, a designer we can in addressthe Unified the physical, Court System’s emotional Graphics and Unit, cognitive requirementswere also very of olderinstrumental adults to in ensure the preparation that their participation and realizat inion court of thisproceedings Guide. Finally is as fair, this and Guide meaningfulwould as possible. not have been possible without the efforts of my dedicated staff in the Office of Policy & Planning, namely Christine Edwards, Esq., Lisa Smith, Esq., and Steven Helfont, Esq. I thank When this everyoneproject began, for their I had hard the pleasurework. of serving as Chief of the New York State Court System’s Office of Policy & Planning, now the Division of Policy & Planning under the guidance of Deputy Chief I hope you find this Guide to be a useful tool in serving our common goal to do justice Administrative Judge Edwina G. Mendelson. I thank Judge Mendelson for always being a champion for for those who have experienced elder abuse and neglect. Together we can address the physical, older adults and against elder abuse. I know that she will continue to foster the Court System’s strong emotional and cognitive requirements of older adults to ensure that their participation in court relationship with the Weinberg Center in the years to come. is as fair and meaningful as possible. Sincerely, Hon.Hon. Sherry Sherry Klein Klein Heitler Heitler (Ret.) NYSOffice Judicial of Policy Institute & Planning ELDER JUSTICE RESOURCE GUIDE A As the population of adults 65 and over continues to grow, with longer than ever life expectancies and increasing needs for support, the responsibility to address barriers to justice for older adult litigants is coming into sharp focus. As legal professionals, we do not get to choose who comes before us, but we do have the opportunity and obligation to provide a fair chance and equal access to justice to those who do. Judges, court personnel, and other legal professionals are vital actors in elder justice work. For older adults experiencing abuse, the court system can present a crucial point of intervention; this important role of the courts became increasingly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting in-person closure of courts, government agencies, and social service providers. Judges and court personnel who are informed about the unique and intersectional challenges that older adults, and particularly older adults experiencing abuse, can face when navigating the labyrinth of the justice system are necessary to address these barriers and ensure real access to justice. With this in mind, we are proud to have co-authored the Elder Justice Resource Guide with the New York State Unified Court System’s Division of Policy and Planning. The entire legal team at the Weinberg Center for Elder Justice has worked diligently to realize this vision, and we extend our gratitude to the Hon. Sherry Klein Heitler, the Hon. Edwina G. Mendelson, and the extraordinary team at the Division of Policy and Planning for their collaboration and work in creating this Guide. We also recognize the strong leadership of the Hon. Janet DiFiore, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and of the State of New York, and the longstanding dedication of the Hon. Deborah A. Kaplan, the Chair of the New York State Judicial Committee on Elder Justice, in her continued pursuit of elder justice in New York. This Guide presents the most up to date and user friendly guide of its kind, and we are confident that it will provide a necessary resource to Judges and other legal professionals interacting with older adults, including those who are experiencing abuse. Signed, Joy Solomon, Esq. Director and Managing Attorney The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Justice at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale ELDER JUSTICE RESOURCE GUIDE C Acknowledgements The Guide is the result of collaboration between The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Justice at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale (hereinafter, “The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice”) and the New York State Unified Court System’s Office of Policy and Planning. Through the important efforts of individuals from each of these organizations and a grant from The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice, the Guide was created to provide a list of resources, information and support for New York’s judges and court personnel. We acknowledge the following people who generously gave of their time and expertise to this project: • Daniel A. Reingold, President & Chief Executive Officer, RiverSpring Living • Joy Solomon, Director and Managing Attorney, The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice • Deirdre Lok, Assistant Director and General Counsel, The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice • Malya Kurzweil Levin, Senior Staff Attorney, The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice • Tristan Sullivan-Wilson, Staff Attorney, The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice also wishes to acknowledge the following organizations and people for their generous support of the Weinberg Center for Elder Justice and for their shared commitment to elder justice: • The Harry and Jeanette • LifeSpan of • NYC Council Members Weinberg Foundation Greater Rochester • NYS Office of • Bloomberg Foundation • Spingold Foundation