World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15
Contact: Katie Boland, Director of External Relations – 216-658-1881, kboland@elizabryant.org
Cleveland, OH – Eliza Bryant Village continues to build strong support for elders experiencing abuse, violence, trauma, or criminal victimization through its newest program, the Elder Justice Center (EJC). On Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Tuesday, June 15, Eliza Bryant Village is promoting the Elder Justice Center to raise awareness about elder abuse and resources for safety and justice in our community.
“Eliza Bryant Village was established 125 years ago because there wasn’t a safe place for African American seniors to age with quality healthcare, dignity, and respect,” said Danny R. Williams, JD, MNO, LNHA, President & CEO of Eliza Bryant Village. “Abuse and violations against older adults generate a false reality that they are not valuable. We are employed to create a safe space for seniors where they can age with happiness, dignity, and respect. The Elder Justice Center is a natural evolution of our commitment to care for the vulnerable population of our community’s elders.”
The Elder Justice Center at Eliza Bryant Village provides temporary safe housing and wrap-around services for the growing population of older adults who are experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing, abuse, violence, trauma, or criminal victimization. The Village works to help the seniors return to a safe environment through community partners to connect clients and their families to legal, financial, and social service supports.
A former guest of the EJC said of her experience, “I came to Eliza Bryant a broken women. And I left here with a home. I left here feeling stronger about myself. My goals and outlook for myself became phenomenal.”
To date, the Elder Justice Center has rescued 13 seniors experiencing abuse. Four seniors have relocated to the Village in our affordable housing program, three have relocated outside the Village and three are being served at the EJC today. We also connected 36 seniors at risk to appropriate programs in the community. The EJC has nine private rooms where guests can stay for up to 90 days.
“The Elder Justice Center offers so much more than the critical resources of housing and social supports,” said Cecil Lipscomb, CNM, Chair of the Eliza Bryant Village Board of Trustees and Executive Director of The United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland. “The EJC gives seniors hope for their remaining golden years. For so many seniors who have paved the path for us by enduring many obstacles, it is an honor that the Village is a place for seniors to seek shelter and establish roots for a safe and happy future.”
The Elder Justice Center is accepting guests and generous donations today. To learn more about the Elder Justice Center, or to make a donation, visit www.elizabryant.org or call 844-EJC-SAFE.
###
About Eliza Bryant Village
Eliza Bryant Village provides high-quality services for seniors along the continuum of care in a safe, dignified and compassionate environment. We offer skilled nursing with memory-care and rehabilitation, on-site dialysis care, an adult day care and senior outreach program, and affordable independent senior housing. Home Care is available to Eliza Bryant Village seniors as well as our aging neighbors. The Elder Justice Center at Eliza Bryant Village provides free, temporary housing and wrap-around services to older adults experiencing abuse, violence, trauma, or criminal victimization. Eliza Bryant Village, located on 17 acres in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood, has been an anchor institution in the community for 125 years. The oldest continually operating African American-founded long-term care facility in the United States, we serve more than 1,000 seniors annually with more than 160 compassionate employees and nearly 300 volunteers.