St. Elizabeth offers ‘haven’ for victims

EAST GREENWICH – St. Elizabeth Community, a nonprofit group that provides nursing care, assisted living, adult day services and apartments for the elderly at eight locations across the state, has started a new program for elderly victims of abuse.
The program, which will operate out of St. Elizabeth’s existing facilities, involves a collaboration with multiple agencies, including Brown University’s Center for Gerontology & Health Care Research, the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence and its member agencies, several state agencies, and other nonprofits.
“Sadly enough, elder abuse is on the rise in the United States, and here in Rhode Island, private and state agencies sometimes need a safe haven for an elderly victim of abuse,” said Steven J. Horowitz, president & CEO of St. Elizabeth.
“St. Elizabeth Community is committed to being that safe haven for elders and will work with those already on the front lines of elder abuse,” he added.
In order to participate in the program, seniors must be referred by a partner agency, be 60 years or older, need somewhere to stay for no longer than 30 days, and be a victim of abuse.
Referrals will be reviewed by a team of professionals, and some referrals may not be deemed to be appropriate, the nonprofit warned, noting that it is not a homeless shelter, nor is it an appropriate setting for “victims of self neglect.”
St. Elizabeth Haven is modeled after the first safe haven for elderly victims of abuse in the United States, The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Center for Abused Elders at the Hebrew Home in Riverdale, N.Y.
For more information about St. Elizabeth Community, go to www.stelizabethcommunity.com.

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