San Mateo County Commission on Aging Produces Play About Elder Abuse

 
WHO: California Department on Aging, Adult Abuse Prevention Committee (AAPC), a standing committee of the San Mateo County Commission on Aging, and San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services.

WHAT: “Making the Invisible Visible,” produced by the Adult Abuse Prevention Committee to build awareness about elder abuse in San Mateo County, is a play illustrating the financial and emotional abuse from a son who takes advantage of his elderly mother. Actors are all volunteers who live in San Mateo County, selected through auditions held by the AAPC. The oldest actor is Marvin Goldman, 93, who plays the role of the son. Audience members are encouraged to participate in a post-performance discussion about elder abuse issues.

WHEN & WHERE:
Sunday, March 1, 2015, 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Congregational Church of San Mateo
225 Tilton Avenue
San Mateo, CA

Thursday, March 12, 2015, 12:45 to 2:15 p.m.
Pacifica Community Center
540 Crespi Drive @ Hwy 1
Pacifica, CA

Friday, June 5, 2015, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
San Bruno Senior Center
1555 Crystal Springs Road San Bruno, CA

Performances are FREE
“Making the Invisible Visible,” performed as an improvisational play by a cast of San Mateo County residents for the first time in June 2014, originated as an idea of the Adult Abuse Prevention Committee of the San Mateo County Commission on Aging. The goal was to present the concept of elder abuse and what it can look like. AAPC partnered with play director Eyal Rabinovitch, who directs the theater program of the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, to train all the volunteer actors in theatrical techniques. The script is a composite of the actor’s own experiences with elder abuse.

“AAPC decided as a whole to produce the play because it sounded like a completely different and exciting way to reach out and build awareness around elder abuse in San Mateo County and try to prevent it,” said Melodie Lew, AAPC committee chair. “We hope the power of the production moves those who attend, to talk to other people and make them aware.”

Protecting older adults and combatting elder abuse are goals for San Mateo County government in 2015 and have been identified as priority areas for Measure A funding by the County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors.

“Financial abuse often goes unreported,” said Supervisor Adrienne Tissier, who represents the Board of Supervisors on the San Mateo County Commission on Aging. “Bringing awareness about elder abuse to all ages is an important step in making the public aware that this is a widespread problem and not always physical.”

Full Article & Source:
San Mateo County Commission on Aging Produces Play About Elder Abuse