Monroe County has a new tool in the fight against the “silver tsunami.”
The turn of phrase refers to the rising median age of the United States’ workforce, which is heavily composed of the baby boom generation. These adults’ parents may be dead, and they may have no other family or be estranged from relatives and friends.
Without someone to advocate on their behalf, those who work with the aging community worry about how elders will successfully navigate the justice system. Thursday, the Monroe County prosecutor’s office and nonprofit Area 10 Agency on Aging announced the formation of a new Volunteer Advocate for Seniors or Incapacitated Adults program, which will pair older community members with legal guardians.
These guardians, trained locally and appointed by judges, will be responsible for making personal, financial and medical decisions on behalf of older adults incapable of making such decisions for themselves due to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“These persons are on their own; they can’t take care of themselves and have no one to help them,” said Monroe County Prosecutor Chris Gaal said at a Thursday news conference. “Too often, these situations go unnoticed.”
VASIAs will act much like Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), who are adults appointed by judges to speak on behalf of children in the court system who are victims of abuse or neglect. Older adults who have suffered a stroke, have debilitating mental health issues or have degenerative brain diseases are often victims of self-neglect, as well as medical, emotional and physical neglect, Gaal said.
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