Elderly people in New York are often victims of crime by relatives and strangers: how to help them

Some elderly New Yorkers are abused by relatives and strangers, so the city has launched a program to help these individuals. Elder abuse can be financial, physical, emotional, and also includes neglect of care (refusal to give a person food, medicine or completely ignoring his existence), says City Hall website.

Researchconducted by the Department of Aging (DFTA) and other organizations, found that 76 out of every 1000 elderly New Yorkers had been abused by relatives over the past year.

Resources for victims of abuse by relatives

DFTA collaborates with local programs in each borough (list of them) here) to provide older victims of abuse with protection and security. These programs also help victims gather evidence of a violation of their rights and seek compensation through New York State Violence Assistance Service.

Help Center contacts in each New York area:

Bronx

Neighborhood Self Help by Older Persons, Inc.
Neighborhood SHOPP VIP Program 953
Southern Boulevard, Suite 203 Bronx, NY 10459
Phone: (718) 542-0006

Brooklyn

The NYC Department for the Aging Elderly
Crime Victims Resource Center
Phone: (212) 442-3103

Manhattan

Carter Burden Center for the Aging, Inc.
1484 1 Avenue New York, NY 10075
Phones: (212) 879-7400 ext. 116
(212) 875-7400 ext. 121 (Spanish)

Queens

Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA)
97-77 Queens Boulevard, Suite 600 Rego Park, NY 11374
Phone: (212) 273-5272

Staten island

Community Agency for Senior Citizens, Inc.
56 Bay Street Staten Island, NY 10301
Phone: (718) 981-6226

Read more about the program here.

Psychological support

A third of victims of elder abuse suffer from depression, anxiety or psychological trauma, as it is difficult for them to take steps towards their relatives to solve the problem of violence. PROTECT staff program in partnership with the Geriatric Psychiatry Institute Veila Cornell provides victims with psychological support.

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Community-based anti-elder abuse agencies connect victims with clinicians who provide treatment for them by meeting in safe places: community centers or at home.

PROTECT is an initiative launched by DFTA in conjunction with the New York City Domestic Violence Team, which is run by the City Hall.

For older victims of crimes committed by strangers

DFTA Resource Center for Elderly Crime Victims helps elderly people who are victims of crimes committed by strangers. These can be financial, physical and emotional crimes.

A list of the offices of the center by state and city of New York can be found. here.

To lure money, criminals often pretend to be IRS representatives, offer older people investments, home improvement services and more.

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Never share personal information with unknown people. If you doubt the veracity of a stranger talking to you on the phone, hang up and call the official phone number of the agency from which you were supposedly called. Do not disclose your bank account, social security number, or Medicare and Medicaid information.

If you think you are a victim of fraud, call 311.