The Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center was awarded one of 12 federal grants to establish a new elder abuse coalition in Lee County. The grant was awarded by the National Center on Elder Abuse, National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
The Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center is collaborating with community partners to develop a strategic plan and implement initiatives for this new elder abuse coalition. Participating agencies and leaders include: Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services, United Way of Lee, Hendry, & Glades, Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Cape Coral Police Department, Fort Myers Police Department, State Attorney’s Office, Office of Lt. Governor, NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness), CCMI (Community Cooperative Ministries), Dr. Piper Center, Senior Friendship Centers, Hope HealthCare Services, long-term care providers, elder law attorneys, financial planners, professional guardians, county judge, and other human service providers.
The new coalition, Lee Elder Abuse Prevention Partnership, is committed to achieving the mission to create community partnerships that effectively promote awareness of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults and provide services, advocacy, and support.
Approximately 24 percent of Lee County residents are in the age range of 65-plus and 12 percent are 75-plus people over the age of 65. As older adults experience age-related illnesses and changes in physical abilities, the risk for isolation and potential self-neglect increases. These individuals may also be vulnerable to exploitation and abuse as their social support network slowly deteriorates. According to NCEA 2005 Facts Sheet estimates show “that for every one case of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect reported to authorities, about five more go unreported.”
“This grant allows our community to bring together dedicated leaders and providers to focus on raising awareness and preventing elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Our center is pleased to assist in offering leadership for this effort,” says Dotty St. Amand, executive director of the Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center in a prepared statement.
The Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center, a United Way partner agency, provides information, education, and support to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders and their caregivers in Lee County. Services provided include caregiver and early stage dementia support groups, a quarterly newsletter, a lending library of books and resource materials, educational seminars, and training programs for professionals as well as family caregivers. The Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center also offers a Safety Program with emergency plan kits for caregivers and identification bracelets for persons with memory impairment.
The Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center’s office is at 10051 McGregor Boulevard, Suite 101 in Fort Myers. For more information about services offered by the Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center, call (239) 437-3007.

Source: Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center