Robin Covington became the inaugural director of the Rhode Island Coalition for Elder Justice in June. The coalition is a Warwick-based nonprofit created in 2021 by the Saint Elizabeth Community that serves as a partnership with senior service agencies, community and advocacy groups, and law enforcement, among other groups, to create an effective community coordinated response to the abuse of older adults. Covington spoke with Providence Business News about her new role and her goals to curtail elder abuse in the state. PBN: What are your overall goals for the coalition as director? COVINGTON: Elder abuse happens frequently but there is very little discussion of the issue. My overall goals include raising awareness of elder abuse and strengthening our community's prevention efforts. I plan to develop strategies for long-term sustainability, where our coalition is well known to the public, comparable to organizations working to address domestic violence or child abuse. As the coalition develops and grows, we'd like to be able to influence public policy and advocate for developing programs based on existing national models. PBN: How prevalent is elder abuse in Rhode Island and where does that typically occur? COVINGTON: Elder abuse is known as a silent epidemic. Nationally, elder abuse is one of the most underreported crimes, as just 1 in 10 cases of elder abuse is ever reported. Most often, elder abuse happens in the home where the older adult is isolated. Most often, elder abuse is perpetrated by a family member or other trusted person. Out of fear, older adults do not tell anyone about the abuse, therefore it is imperative that we all recognize the signs and report these incidents so that older adults remain safe. We also are seeing that financial abuse has become the fastest-growing form of elder abuse. According to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Annual Report, individuals over the age of 60 reported total losses exceeding $3.4 billion in 2023. PBN: How will the coalition help to prevent further abuse from occurring? COVINGTON: The coalition will continue to educate all Rhode Islanders about how to recognize the signs of abuse and how to report abuse to the [R.I.] Office of Healthy Aging 24/7 by contacting (401) 462-0555 or completing an online reporting form. We are all mandated reporters and all information is anonymous. PBN: Explain how you helped enhance senior well-being in your prior role with the East Bay Community Action Program. COVINGTON: I oversaw the case management of home and community-based services, including home care and adult protective services. My team and I assured that homebound seniors received supportive services to remain in their homes safely. My team and I were the first point of contact for self-neglect cases that were reported to the Office of Healthy Aging. I also established a great partnership amongst elder service providers where we would work together for the betterment of our vulnerable older adults. PBN: Will the coalition work with state officials to put strong regulations in place to prevent elder abuse? COVINGTON: The coalition will work closely with state officials to advocate for systems change. Coalition members are concerned about guardianship abuse. We will also continue to advocate for rate reimbursements within the health care system, which includes paying certified nursing assistants livable wages. This, in turn, will hopefully help with the CNA staffing crisis, as we are having difficulty with recruitment and retention. Additionally, Rhode Island nursing homes are facing significant challenges. Staffing shortages, employee burnout and severe financial issues have been persistent problems since before the pandemic, but they have worsened considerably in recent years. This has led to an increase in incidents such as neglect and preventable deaths. James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at [email protected]. You may also follow him on X at @James_Bessette.