AARP VI Joined Forces with the VI Department of Human Services for the Second Elder Justice Summit, Targeting Finacial Exploitation

Pamela Toussaint, Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach for AARP VI welcomed the large audience of banking, credit union, and human services representatives from across the territory who elected to participate in the second Elder Justice Summit, "You are our eyes and ears when it comes to identifying fraud and financial exploitation, you are our frontline professionals."

The August 21st Elder Justice Summit focused on financial exploitation of the 65+ community. This event was held on both St. Croix and St. Thomas, with a livestream connecting both AARP offices. The Elder Justice Summit was attended by Lt. Governor Tregenza Roach, Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, as well as representatives from First Bank, Oriental Bank, the St. Thomas Credit Union, Merchant Commercial Bank, Bank of St. Croix, Frederiksted Federal Credit Union, and financial specialists from Medicaid and SNAP from the Department of Human Services.

The keynote speaker of the event was Puerto Rico Banking Association President and CEO Zoime Alvarez Rubio. She walked the audience through signs of fraud, financial exploitation, and abuse of our senior population. Listeners heard about common financial fraud schemes, protocols adopted at some Puerto Rico banks to assist fraud victims, and changes in the law adopted to combat wrongdoing. When discussing the different sources of fraud and abuse, Troy de Chabert-Schuster, AARP State Director of the Virgin Islands noted "Tragically, abuse sometimes comes from people our seniors know and trust."

Other speakers included: Commissioner of the VI Department of Human Services, Averil George; Troy A. de Chabert-Schuster, State Director of AARP Virgin Islands; Heather Richardson-Henry, Acting District Manager of Adult Protective Services from the VI Department of Human Services; Kishma Vincent, Assistant Administrator of Senior Citizens Affairs at the VI Department of Human Services; G. Diane Francis, Regional Risk Manager of First Bank Virgin Islands; Attorney Paul Greenwood; Keisha Richards, CEO of the St. Thomas Credit Union; Beth Russo, Esq., AARP Government Affairs Director; and the Attorney General from the VI Department of Justice.

"We need to prepare for the 'Silver Tsunami'," stated Lt. Governor Roach, "11,400 people turn 65 years old every single day in our county. We are an aging population."

"We're living longer and becoming more vulnerable to exploitation. We want you as our financial partners to be more vigilant," added Heather Richardson-Henry, Acting District Manager of Adult Protective Services from the Department of Human Services.

The participants left the Elder Justice Summit energized and ready to defend the most vulnerable of our population. Lt. Governor Roach mentioned that he can now see that new legislature is needed to protect our citizens from financial exploitation. AARP VI and VI Department of Human Servies is already hard at work, planning the next Elder Justice Summit meeting, which will highlight caregiving and support for caregivers. This series of events is a collaboration between AARP VI and the VI Department of Human Services.