Los Angeles, CA—Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a proposal by Supervisor Janice Hahn to explore creating a Senior Safe Home to protect victims of elder abuse.
One in ten seniors have experienced some form of elder abuse which can range from financial, emotional, physical, sexual, or psychological. On average, a tenth of these victims face homelessness due to the abuse. However, no facilities in LA County are dedicated to providing refuge to these survivors, with only one such facility existing west of the Mississippi.
“Victims of elder abuse without any safe place to go will continue to be abused or will fall into homelessness,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “By creating a Senior Safe Home, we can protect survivors of elder abuse from their abusers and get them the help and support they need to enjoy their golden years with dignity and in peace.”
With Supervisor Hahn’s proposal, the LA County Department of Aging and Disabilities will take the lead on developing a roadmap to creating a Senior Safe Home. The model would be similar to a domestic violence shelter, providing a secure location where survivors would be protected from abusers and would have their own rooms with wraparound supportive services.
The Aging & Disabilities Department will work with the Departments of Public Health, Health Services, Mental Health, Public Social Services, CEO Real Estate, Homeless Initiative and community stakeholders to provide a 180-day feasibility report back to the Board of Supervisors. This report back will include substantiated elder abused data from the last 5 years, the development of site-specific criteria, and a pilot project funding model to help establish sustainability.
The idea of an LA County Senior Safe Home would build on the concept brought to Hahn’s office by the Long Beach Senior Citizen Advisory Commission. While the City of Long Beach recently explored how to create a senior safe home, they were unable to provide this resource, showing the need for collaboration and locking arms with the County.
Read full motion here.