Greater Richmond Elder Justice Shelter Initiative - The Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA), in partnership with Senior Connections, Homeward, and Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), will establish, pilot, and evaluate an innovative elder shelter model serving the greater Richmond region. This model will address emergency and transitional housing needs while incorporating wrap-around services for older adults ages 60+, including those with disabilities, who have experienced abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This goal will be met by the achievement of the following project objectives: 1) establish a person-centered, trauma-informed housing strategy composed of a continuum of partners; 2) develop cross-sector service coordination protocol for older adults experiencing maltreatment and homelessness; 3) develop an electronic referral method between homeless services providers and the local Area Agency on Aging; 4) develop a volunteer care team model to provide social and practical support for individuals served through the project; 5) boost workforce support to decrease moral injury and moral distress by conducting cross-sector training for providers. Expected outcomes include: 1) establishment of an innovative, effective, sustainable, and replicable elder justice shelter model serving the Richmond region and 2) establishment of a continuum of supportive services that produce better outcomes for and respond to the unique and diverse needs in underserved populations of older adults, including those with disabilities, who have experienced abuse, neglect and/or exploitation. The major product to be developed through completion of this project is a replicable blueprint of an effective, innovative, and decentralized elder justice shelter model and associated protocols to guide partnership collaboration and service provision.
