Green Bay Reporter

In Green Bay, Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has joined forces with the Wisconsin Elder Justice Coalition to address elder abuse. This collaboration is part of the efforts for World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, focusing on providing resources to combat elder abuse, a significant issue affecting one in ten older adults according to the National Council on Aging.

The partnership aims to tackle various forms of elder abuse—physical, emotional, financial, and neglect—which often go unreported due to fear or communication barriers. The consequences of such abuse can lead to depression, anxiety, financial issues, and premature death.

Supported by a grant from Lifespan of Greater Rochester, the coalition is taking strategic steps involving state agencies, nonprofits, and community leaders. Their goal is to create tools and resources that empower professionals and communities in preventing and effectively intervening in cases of elder abuse.

Among these resources are two toolkits: the Elder Death Review Team (EDRT) Toolkit and the Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) Toolkit. The EDRT Toolkit helps establish teams to review elder deaths and recommend policy changes. Meanwhile, the FAST Toolkit focuses on combating financial exploitation by forming teams from healthcare, legal, financial, and social services sectors.

“These toolkits help communities work together to better understand and prevent financial exploitation and death of older adults,” said Dinah LaCaze from Milwaukee County's Department of Health and Human Services. “By learning from present and past cases, we can improve coordination, close service gaps, and ultimately save lives.”

The coalition is working not only to raise awareness but also drive systemic change by encouraging reporting of suspected abuse and equipping communities with practical tools for protection.

For more information about their resources or how to get involved, interested parties can visit www.uwgb.edu/elder-justice-coalition or contact Debra Leis at 920-465-2469.

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay serves over 11,000 students annually across four campuses in Northeast Wisconsin. It offers 200 academic degrees and continues its mission since 1965 as a rapidly growing institution within the University of Wisconsin system.