Elder Financial Protection Network held its 8th annual Call to Action conference and awards ceremony at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF. 
Veteran actor, Mickey Rooney, provided an emotional speech drawing tears and three standing ovations from the crowd of nearly 300 representatives of financial institutions, social services, law enforcement, legal professionals and elder justice advocates. “I am here today as the voice of millions of senior citizens to tell you that ending elder abuse is of critical importance.” Rooney said, “No one ever thinks they will be in this position in their lifetime, but the statistics are staggering, and they paint an unsettling picture. Whether the abuse is physical, emotional or financial, it is an unbelievable reality that often sneaks up on you without warning.” Philip Marshall, elder justice advocate and grandson of New York philanthropist Brooke Astor delivered compelling testimony and called for increased national collaboration to fight this growing crime. He said, “While my grandmother was emotionally and financially abused and isolated, her case is far from isolated; there are millions of victims, today, suffering similar injury.”
Rooney read the Call to Action Proclamation which calls upon Congress to authorize the postmaster general to issue a special elder abuse postage stamp; to fund the Elder Justice Act and requests that the President issue a proclamation declaring June 15, 2012 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and to light the White House Purple on this day. More than 200 participants followed Rooney’s lead and signed the poster-sized proclamation. An online petition was launched at the event through the EFPN’s website http://www.bewiseonline.org.
Full Press Release and Source;
Actor Mickey Rooney Speaks at National Summit on Elder Financial Abuse in San Francisco
See Also:
Elder Financial Protection Network
10 comments:
I'm glad to see Mickey speaking up for others and using his celebrity to bring awareness to elder abuse.
Go Mickey go!
Looks like EFPN have some great ideas!
Was guardianship abuse a primary topic at this summit?
I ask you
What did this conference propose or do to reliably prevent the financial exploitation of older adults at the time they execute wills, deeds, trusts, POAs and other important legal/financial documents?
I ask you
What did this conference propose or do to ensure that fraud complaints are investigated and prosecuted rather than dismissed as civil complaints without an investigation and report?
I ask you
What did this conference propose or do to reliably protect us against the negligence and abuse perpetrated by authorities, including social workers, lawyers, and judges?
Rather than propose or do anything substantial to provide these protections, this conference calls upon Congress to issue a special elder abuse postage stamp?
I ask you
How can you applaud this conference?
I ask you
Is such undeserved applause part of the problem?
tvfields, this conference brought about more public attention on the overall problem of elder abuse.
Anytime a conference or an article or a hearing informs people of elder abuse of all sorts, it's important.
Don't underestimate the power of a postage stamp!
I agree with Diane and Barbara that this summit was important. Any time the camera is watching and someone speaks out about elder abuse helps our cause.
We cannot expect things to change over night, even though the things we are trying to change so desperately need quick resolve. We have to keep plugging away and accept (and yes applaud) any thing that helps draw attention to the exploitation of vulnerable people.
Any summit held about elder abuse is a good thing. We have become a nation that doesn't just put "kids first", but puts them ahead of the elderly.
The elderly are just as vulnerable and frail as children. I believe they are equal status.
We need more seminars that speak to elder abuse.
Mickey will always be known for the work he is doing now, at 90, to bring attention to elder abuse.
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