CLESE - Elder Abuse and Neglect Intervention

	Elder Abuse and Neglect Intervention for Limited English Speaking Elderly The identification, interpretation for and intervention of elder abuse and neglect program has expanded to include cases of self-neglect. Ethnic agencies staff work to protect the older person and maintain their dignity and rightful place in the family. They provide services to help the older person and the whole family.
Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly (CLESE) 53 West Jackson, Suite 1301 Chicago, IL 60604 312-461-0812 312-461-1466 (fax) info@clese.org	Elder Abuse and Neglect in Ethnic Communities Most families are caring and responsible Abuse is most often emotional in nature, sometimes is also neglect Problems can come from immigration adjustment Abusers are adult children – often in-law children Can be devastating to the older person to have family problems – they are dependent on the family for everything Denial of problem is personal and cultural For example: In China . . . Everyone in China has a job Hospitals and doctors are nearby The social support system is strong The group is more important than the individual Family Dynamics in China In China, the family honors and respects the elder Adult children are responsible for their parents by law The elderly generation has the resources – house and money Younger generation lives with the son’s parents After immigration Here, society provides enough services to help – families do not feel responsible But, elderly can’t use mainstream services Parents are seen as old and useless Conditions like Alzheimer’s disease are not understood	Another example: Family Dynamics in India Strong obligation in the culture to care for elderly parents No concept of yours and mine – everything belongs to the family Whole community helps to care for the parents More on families . . . Doctors make home visits Elderly live with son and his wife Many women do not work outside the home Even middle-classes have servants After immigration . . . Here, daughters-in-law do not have time – they have professional careers They do not feel the same obligation They may be resentful of parents' demands Families are isolated Language and transportation barriers keep elderly isolated More on immigration Son-in-law is often a problem – he would never have in-laws living in his home back home Families disintegrate as everyone tries to be independent Families hide their problems
Implementing an elder abuse, neglect and self-neglect intervention program in ethnic communities funded through the Chicago Department on Aging. The project includes respite services to care giving families.	We Honor these People as Community Treasures. The Community Treasures left their home countries to pursue the American Dream The Community Treasures courageously faced the challenges of beginning their lives in America while volunteering to help others. Download Community Treasures 2006 \| 2007 (As Adobe PDFs) CLESE brochure(s): Page 1 \| Page 2 \| Elder Abuse and Neglect Presentation (as PDFs) .
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	Coalition of Limited English Speaking