Become a Host Organization

Elder Justice Program

The crisis of elder abuse in our country is acute and threatens a growing population. Older adults are especially susceptible to victimization because of social isolation and dependency on others, compounded by factors including poverty, mental and physical health challenges, and limited transportation. More than 10 percent of older adults, or approximately five million people in the United States, are victims of caregiver neglect, financial fraud and exploitation, and/or psychological, physical, and sexual abuse every year.

The Elder Justice Program is a two-year Fellowship program that mobilizes 22 lawyers across the country to address the gap in civil legal services for victims of elder abuse and exploitation. Fellows provide direct legal services, outreach, and education; they work with victims of elder abuse to enforce their rights and address wide-ranging civil legal issues, such as financial exploitation, housing, protection orders, guardianship, and public benefits. Recognizing the particular challenge to accessing legal services by older adults in rural communities, the majority of our host organizations and Fellows serve rural communities.

The Elder Justice Program is not currently recruiting host organizations. Please contact [email protected] for questions.

The Elder Justice Program is supported by an award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), Award Number 2019-V3-GX-K033. The federal funding is supplemented by funds from private donors.