Council offers first responders scholarships to elder abuse event

The Council on Aging of Central Oregon today announced it will fund eight $150 scholarships to Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s third annual Elder Abuse Conference, which will be held November 7 th through 9th at the Riverhouse Hotel & Convention Center in Bend.

The scholarships are available to police, fire and emergency medical responders, and to social workers, hospice workers, in-home care staff and behavioral health workers who actively serve the vulnerable older population in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties.

“A key part of our focus is to give all individuals in our communities the information and resources necessary to help older adults age in place with safety, independence, dignity, and well-being,” said Susan Rotella, executive director for the Council on Aging of Central Oregon.

“These scholarships enable emergency responders, social services staffers, and other human services providers to further their education on the many ways older adults–with and without cognitive impairment–can be vulnerable to abuse. The more they know, the better capable these public safety and service employees are at protecting our clients and older adult neighbors.”

Interested applicants can apply for the scholarships by accessing an online application and submitting it to Ellen Klem at: ElderAbuse@doj.state.or.us. Preference will be given to those applicants working to secure the well-being and safety of Central Oregon’s older adults.