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Rhode Island Coalition for Elder Justice: Expanding its Unifying Voice to Protect Older Adults
The Rhode Island Coalition for Elder Justice (RICEJ), a statewide network of advocates, service providers, and community leaders, is expanding its efforts to raise awareness, prevent abuse, and safeguard the rights and dignity of older adults.
With Rhode Island home to one of the fastest-growing older populations in the country, the Coalition serves as a unifying voice in addressing elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Through coordinated partnerships, public awareness campaigns, workforce training, and community engagement, RICEJ is leading a collective effort to ensure older adults are safe, supported, and empowered.
“Elder abuse is a hidden crisis — but it doesn’t have to be,” said Robin Covington, Director of RICEJ. “By working together, we can shine a light on abuse, strengthen protections, and connect Rhode Islanders with the resources they need.”
Recent initiatives include distributing multilingual educational materials to help Rhode Islanders recognize and report elder abuse, building stronger connections through trainings with healthcare and faith-based organizations, and expanding a statewide series of educational opportunities that equip families, caregivers, and professionals with the tools to prevent exploitation.
The Coalition also coordinates closely with state agencies, law enforcement, and advocacy groups to improve reporting pathways and strengthen accountability across systems. Its new Elder Abuse Reporting Postcard—distributed through partners such as Meals on Wheels and senior service agencies—provides simple, accessible steps for Rhode Islanders to take action if they suspect abuse.
About the Rhode Island Coalition for Elder Justice
The Rhode Island Coalition for Elder Justice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the safety and well-being of older adults through systems change, education, and community engagement. Its mission is to foster a coordinated response to elder abuse, close service gaps, and raise public awareness so that every older adult in Rhode Island can live free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
For more information, resources, or to get involved, visit www.rielderjustice.org or contact [email protected].
The Coalition is a partnership among victim service agencies, senior service agencies, community groups, advocacy groups, law enforcement and state departments. Its purpose is to create an effective community coordinated response to the abuse of older adults. The Coalition is a statewide effort inclusive of adults aged 50 and older (who may also be disabled).
The RI Elder Justice Coalition is making huge strides in raising awareness of elder abuse!
One of the leading risk factors for elder abuse is social isolation. Reports by the National Council on Aging have found that 60% of elder abuse and neglect is perpetrated by a family member and two-thirds of the perpetrators are adult children or spouses.
Older adults don’t seek help for all of the same reasons as younger abuse victims-fear, shame, isolation, and lack of resources. Their experience of abuse may be made worse by overall poor health, cognitive impairment and mobility limitations. The abuser may withhold medical care, assistive devices (cane, walker, hearing aid), medicine, or withhold attention from other family members such as children or grandchildren. An abuser may even give too much medicine to ensure compliance with the abusers need for control.
Older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias are at dramatically higher risk of being abused. Studies show that nearly half of older adults with dementia will experience some form of abuse during the course of their illness. The very symptoms of dementia—confusion, memory loss, impaired judgment, and communication challenges—can make individuals more dependent on others, less able to detect danger, and far less capable of reporting mistreatment. Sadly, this makes them easier targets for abusers.
Thank you Rhode Island Coalition for Elder Justice for educating the community and supporting victims!
I need to speak to someone, anyone I need help, I’ve been bait & switched , at an elderly complex please help!
Donna – email [email protected] – or call 785-3340, # for the Ombudsman for Long Term Care issues such as nursing homes… 462-0555 for living in the community. Best of luck…