Elder Justice Innovation Grants FY2025 - The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Centers on Aging, alongside key partners Arkansas Area Agency on Aging and others, will launch the Elder Justice League. The goal is to reduce the risk, prevalence, and recurrence of senior abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation across Arkansas, particularly for dementia patients, through the implementation of an innovative system which measurably and mutually benefits patients and caregivers. Objectives include: Deliver interactive, culturally appropriate education and outreach, including immersive virtual reality training and tailored community materials to over 1,800 community members statewide to increase accurate knowledge, bystander readiness, and early reporting of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and provide free, rapid-access social work and follow-up to older adults and caregivers affected by or at high risk for abuse, neglect, or exploitation, to enhance resource connection, well-being, and sustained engagement in support services. Outcomes include: At least 60% of learners will show marked gains in elder abuse knowledge, with a 20% or greater rise in APS reports or help-seeking from targeted areas. A quarter of helpline callers will cite our outreach, and 60% of calls will come from recently served zip codes. Sixty percent of referrals will connect to services within a month. At least half of caregivers and older adults will show improved well-being or lower stress, 50% of trainees will report increased readiness to act, and half of initial contacts will remain engaged at three months. Products include VR training modules, the project impact report, toolkits and program materials, evaluation summaries, technical assistance, stakeholder and community briefings, project website, dissemination in peer-reviewed forums, and social media outreach campaigns.
