June is Pride Month

In 2019, SeniorAdvice.com named Asheville as among the nation’s best cities in America for LGBTQ seniors. There are many aspects of our community that contribute to this ranking.  At their June 1, 2021 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners recognized Pride Month with the adoption of the County’s first-ever Pride Month Proclamation.   

According to recent estimates from Gallup Surveys, the national population of LGBTQ older adults is expected to double by 2050, to 88 million people aged 65 and older. It is therefore essential that communities such as ours capitalize on the unique opportunities and address the challenges presented to the LGBTQ older adult community.   

These challenges include the fact that, 3 out of 4 LGBTQ adults age 45+ are concerned about having enough support from family and friends as they grow older (AARP, 2018), and the same proportion (3/4) is less likely to have children than their heterosexual counterparts (Boston Foundation, 2018). Because so many aging LGBTQ adults don’t have children, a partner or a spouse, and live alone, their chances of experiencing loneliness increases, which can trigger mental health and physical problems.   

Despite these challenges, in our community, there are some efforts and organizations committed to promoting and supporting LGBTQ older adults. Age-friendly Buncombe partner Blue Ridge Pride offers Generation Plus, a program that seeks to enrich the lives of LGBTQ+ and allied community older adults. 

Here are a few of the programs Generation Plus offers: 

• Pride Time is a fun and supportive virtual social hour, typically held the second Wednesday of each month at 6pm. Registration info is here.  

• Rainbow Inspiration, co-sponsored by AARP Mountain Region, is a series of spotlights on our LGBTQ community leaders and influencers that typically take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 12:00 noon. Find out more about this Facebook Live event here.  

• Lunch and Learn and other in-person social events are currently being planned. To learn more, visit Generation Plus here.   

Blue Ridge Pride also hosts a Virtual LGBTQ Community Center, which includes a searchable database of welcoming community services, businesses, churches, and social and professional groups and programs.   

While June is Pride Month, Age-friendly Buncombe is looking forward to celebrating our LGBTQ senior community at the 2021 Blue Ridge Pride Festival and Welcoming WNC Procession, which will take place on Saturday, September 25 in Pack Square Park. The Procession is at 10am and will be followed by the festival from 11am to 7pm. We hope you'll join us!

Happy Pride Month Y'all!

Photo Credit: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2019/04/09/asheville-named-no-14-city-lgbtq-seniors-and-retirees/3409381002/

Age-friendly Buncombe in AVL Today

 Check out AVL Today's feature, Senior-friendly activities in Asheville, NC

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month

Last week, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners proclaimed June 2021 Elder Abuse Awareness Month (as well as Pride Month). In doing so, they have encouraged us all to educate ourselves, support our elders, and raise awareness of elder abuse in our community. 

Elder abuse takes many forms: physical, emotional, sexual, financial. It can take the form of neglect, including caregiver neglect and self-neglect. And it can involve exploitation, including financial fraud and scams. Elder abuse is perpetrated by family members, neighbors, caregivers, or strangers. Unfortunately, elder abuse is hard to track due to the lack of reporting. The World Health Organization estimates that as few as one in 24 cases of elder abuse is reported. Last year in Buncombe County, Adult Protective Services received 1,794 adult protective services reports alleging elder abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.  

North Carolina state law mandates that “any person who has reasonable cause to believe that a disabled adult is in need of protective services must make a report to the county department of social services (DSS).” That means all of us. It is critically important that we all educate ourselves, and each other, about the signs and symptoms of different forms of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. We also must take our responsibility as mandated reporters seriously. In Buncombe County you can make a Protective Service referral or report by calling (828) 250-5800 anytime, day or night. No appointment is needed.  

Several years ago, the US Department of Justice and the US Department of Health and Human Services issued “The Elder Justice Roadmap: A Stakeholder Initiative to Respond to an Emerging Health, Justice, Financial, and Social Crisis.” In it, they state that awareness is the No. 1 priority critical to understanding and preventing elder abuse.  

Locally, one of the original working groups of the Age-friendly Buncombe Initiative is the Elder Justice Coalition (EJC). EJC is a community-wide collaboration that includes older adult volunteers and professionals from various disciplines, including social work and human services, elder law, law enforcement, criminal justice, healthcare, care/case management, aging services, and many others. EJC’s mission is to strengthen our community’s capacity to prevent and address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. And to do so quickly, effectively, and with respect. They accomplish this mission through four areas of focus:  

1. Elder-centered supportive services 
2. Community awareness and prevention 
3. Professional collaboration and coordination, and  
4. Civic and legal protection and offender accountability  

World Elder Abuse Awareness Month runs from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, with a culmination of activities typically held on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), June 15, 2021. This year, due to COVID-19, we will not be holding the WEAAD Walk at Carrier Park. Instead, on June 15, the County Department of Aging and Adult Services will have an informational table outside at 35 Woodfin. Please stop by for a purple ribbon and educational resources from the County and other partner organizations.   

I'd also like to share with you an assortment of local, regional, and statewide resources. Please explore, learn, and share…together we can make our community safer for everyone.   

Roadmap to Elder Protection  Lean about how Adult Protective Services works in North Carolina works through this excellent, interactive presentation.

Buncombe County Adult Protective Services Learn how Adult Protective Services works locally. 

Council on Aging of Buncombe County Learn some statistics and signs of elder abuse.

Buncombe Family Justice Center Learn about this one-stop-(safe)-shop where victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse can go for help. 

Long Term Care Ombudsman Program Learn about this important resource available for residents in long-term care settings. 

Elder Justice Initiative Western District of NC Learn about what the US Attorney's Office for our region is doing to combat elder neglect, abuse, and financial exploitation.

Legal Aid of North Carolina Senior Law Project Learn about the free legal help that is available for adults age 60+ related to elder abuse but also much more.

Pisgah Legal Services Learn about how this organization helps older adults remain as independent as possible while working to protect them from scams and plan for end-of-life decisions. 

NC Partnership to Address Adult Abuse Learn about this statewide grassroots organization and consider joining their board, there are two open slots!

NC Elder Protection Network Find many resources here, including the Legal Framework for North Carolina's Elder Protection System Manual.

Friends of Residents in Long Term Care Learn about this statewide network and how they are working to improve the quality of long term care in our state. 

ncImpact broadcast on Elder Abuse Prevention in North Carolina (originally aired 9/17/20) Hear from professionals working in elder abuse prevention in North Carolina in this 30 minute program. 

AARP Fraud Watch Network Learn about how AARP can help you avoid combat fraud and avoid being scammed. 

And finally, learn more about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day here.