Levindale Receives Recognition for Work Protecting Elders from Abuse, Exploitation and Neglect

Pikesville, MD - Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital was honored to be awarded the first annual SAFEguarding Our Seniors Leadership Award from CHANA for its partnership in SAFE: Stop Abuse of Elderly. SAFE provides a coordinated community response to elder abuse in Baltimore through prevention, education, crisis intervention, shelter and support.

Abba D. Poliakoff, Esq., accepted the award on behalf of Levindale at the recent SAFEguarding Our Seniors event in the DLA Piper, Marbury Building in Pikesville. Mr. Poliakoff is the current vice chairman of Levindale's Board of Directors and will take over as the chairman on July 1. He spoke to the group about Levindale's historic commitment to taking care of our elders, and the responsibility that we all have to treat the frail and elderly with dignity and respect. 

Among the issues discussed at the SAFEguarding event were ways to recognize and prevent elder abuse. Dr. Leana Wen, the health commissioner in Baltimore City was the keynote speaker.

SAFE was created in 2013 with CHANA, Jewish Community Services (JCS) and LifeBridge Health, Levindale's parent company, because of the growing public health concern about elder abuse in the United States.

As part of the collaboration, CHANA coordinates intake and counseling in order to help families navigate the many issues that surround abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. CHANA also assists with counseling and referrals to legal representation as necessary. JCS helps with locating and obtaining long-term resources for the elder, such as finding an apartment where he or she can live safely, in addition to providing counseling and temporary financial support. LifeBridge Health is one of the organizations that provides a secure and safe place for older adults to receive the level of care and attention needed.

More than one million elders in the United States are abused every year. Two to 10 percent of people over the age of 65 report being abused. Most alarming, 24 percent of murder victims over the age of 60 are killed by their spouses and 42 percent are killed by their children.

About the Partnership Participants
CHANA is a supported program and JCS is a supported agency of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. LifeBridge Health is one of the largest, most comprehensive health providers in Maryland and a constituent partner agency of The Associated that does not receive an annual allocation.