Analysis of Federal Elder/Vulnerable Adult
Programs and Funding
Initially, it was just going to be an article or two on Federal
programs and funding focusing on elder and/or vulnerable adult
abuse. But the more we looked, the more there was to be found.
Ten articles have already been published; nearly that many more
are still to come. When the articles are complete, WordBridges
will explore compiling them into a special, stand-alone publication.
What’s been published so far is available at www.WordBridges.net/elderabuse/AAR/.
Stop Hate Website
For more than a year, the family of WordBridges staff has been
targeted by self-described followers of Hitler for a sustained,
sophisticated campaign of psychological warfare that has included
two gang rapes and mutilations, more than 70 home invasions and
desecrations, and more than 60 hate-filled emails. We are preparing
a website to make this campaign of terror public and to explore
why we believe law enforcement agencies have refused to investigate,
in the hope that other victims will come forward and be supported.
Workshops and Speeches on Elder Abuse
In early Fall, WordBridges staff will be presenting a workshop
at the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence conference
on the topic of “Lesbian, Gay male, Bisexual and Transgender
Elder Domestic Violence,” and giving “A National Perspective
on Elder Abuse and Adult Protective Services” at the 2003
Wisconsin Elder Abuse and Adult Protective Services Conference.
Transgender Aging and SOFFAs (Significant
Others, Friends, Family and Allies) Book Chapters
The Division 44 Task Force on Aging of the American Psychological
Association is developing a book on lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) aging. WordBridges staff has been commissioned
to write two chapters: one on transgender aging, and one on the
needs of SOFFAs of aging LGBTs. The latter chapter is being co-written
by Amity Pierce Buxton, Ph.D., author of The Other Side of the
Closet: The Coming-Out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families.
Profiles of Victims of Domestic Violence in Later
Life
In conjunction with the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later
Life (NCALL), WordBridges staff is developing a project to interview
a demographically diverse selection of survivors of later life
abuse. The resulting profiles will be used in a variety of public
education and professional training materials.
Connectivity: The Sexuality
and “Only” Space Editions
WordBridges staff edits and distributes a themed newsletter,
Connectivity, which “illuminates the dynamic, multifaceted,
challenging, and interrelated process by which personal, interpersonal,
and community growth and development occurs.” The newsletter
is “dedicated to helping move the fragmented trans+/SOFFA
[significant others, friends, family, and allies] communities
beyond identity politics and forge a movement that embraces and
empowers our diverse complexities.” The two editions we
are currently working on are devoted to sexuality and viewpoints
on events and resources that are available only to people with
a certain identity. If you wish to contribute to these or future
editions, please consult our webpage “Submissions,”
at http://www.forge-forward.org/submissions/index.htm/.
The archive of past Connectivity issues is at http://www.forge-forward.org/newsletters/index.htm/.
American Indian Elder Abuse Prevention Project
The Lakota tribe in South Dakota recently completed a series
of 60 radio shows devoted to preventing elder abuse by emphasizing
traditional values honoring elders. WordBridges is working with
project developer Chris Horvath to explore ways in which these
shows can be made available to a wider audience.
National Needs Assessment for Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Elders
Loree Cook-Daniels of WordBridges is serving on the advisory
board for a national needs assessment of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender (LGBT) elders that is being undertaken by SAGE
New York with funding from the Gill Foundation. In particular,
we are representing the needs of transgender elders and helping
ensure this survey is truly inclusive of the diversity of this
community’s needs and identities. The report on this project
should be released shortly.
Domestic Violence Against Transgender Persons:
Resources
WordBridges staff is serving on two domestic violence advisory
groups devoted to lesbian, gay male, bisexual and transgender
issues, one for the state of Wisconsin and one for the city of
Milwaukee. Both groups have found it difficult to locate information
on domestic violence against transgender persons, so WordBridges
is compiling an annotated bibliography of resources on the subject,
which will be published here when it is complete. In the interim,
a good place to start for information on this topic is www.survivorproject.org/.
Serving Transgender Nursing Home Residents:
A Best Practices Guide
Currently there are no resources to help nursing homes appropriately
serve transgender residents. WordBridges and its affiliated organization,
the Transgender Aging Network, seeks to fill this gap by collecting
experiences of trans nursing home residents and the institutions
that serve(d) them, and by gathering expert advice on how to handle
trans-specific issues in the nursing homes setting. A best practices
manual will then be created. Topics will likely include: “types”
of trans people and definitions; how trans residents physically,
socially, historically, and emotionally may differ from non-trans
residents; medical issues specific to some trans individuals (including
hormone use and interactions with other medications); how sex-segregated
facilities have handled placement concerns; training staff about
trans residents and handling staff questions and concerns; accommodating
trans residents’ relationships and sexuality; how nursing
homes have appropriately solved various problems such as roommate
conflicts or objections from other residents’ family and
friends; and additional resources and references. Whenever possible,
actual examples will be used. Where tested solutions aren’t
available, recommendations will be made. Funding for this project
is currently being sought; please contact WordBridges if you wish
to contribute or can suggest a funder that might be interested
in underwriting this unique and much-needed project.
