In partnership with Lifespan of Greater Rochester, LiveOn NY is offering a FREE webinar series for aging service professionals.

As the number of people living with dementia continues to grow, it’s essential that our network of providers feels confident and prepared to offer meaningful support—both to individuals experiencing dementia and to the family and friend care partners who support them.

This workshop is designed to equip staff and program providers with the knowledge and practical strategies they need to respond with empathy, respect, and confidence when dementia becomes part of the picture. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of dementia and how it affects individuals; learn to recognize signs that someone may be experiencing cognitive changes; and receive guidance on how to approach individuals and/or their care partners to express concerns.

Speakers: Stephanie Montero, Community Liaison & Care Manager, Lifespan of Greater Rochester; Cassidy Macdonald, Education Coordinator, Lifespan of Greater Rochester; and Katy Allen, Division Leader, Caregiver Services, Director, Finger Lakes Caregiver Institute, Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc.

This Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) webinar is hosted by Angela Keen and Bridgette Butler.

Many victims of crime envision a more expansive definition of justice outside of the offender-focused criminal justice system we all know. This expansion of justice options can be found within the spectrum of restorative justice. This Vital Subjects webinar is designed to provide an overview of restorative justice practices and principles that can provide opportunities for victims' voices to be elevated and for offenders to learn more about the impact of the harm they have caused. 

The "Restorative Justice Expands Victim Choices and Elevates Victim Voices” webinar is part of the Vital Subjects series. This series will address topics that are critical to the victim services field across the country. 

Access to nutritious food is vital to maintain health in older age and to manage chronic conditions, which are more prevalent in aging populations. However, more than half of older New Yorkers struggle to access quality, affordable food. Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), congregate and home-delivered meals, and food pantries help older adults access the food they need, but recent federal budget changes threaten many of these programs.

Join experts as they discuss the findings from the New York Health Foundation’s newest report examining food insecurity among older adults in New York State. Learn about the experiences and challenges older adults face getting the food they need and the impacts of recent federal policy changes.

Speakers: Colleen Heflin (Professor and Author, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs), Macie McGowan (Director of Kitchen Programs, FoodLink), Emilia Cobbs (Policy and Research Associate, NYHealth), Julia McCarthy (Senior Program Officer, NYHealth-moderator)

The Elder Abuse Prevention Certificate Course (EAPCC) is presented by the Upstate Elder Abuse Center (UpEAC) at Lifespan in partnership with the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center (FLGEC) at the University of Rochester.

This is a ten (10) class online course (20 hours) for professionals that takes a deeper dive into elder abuse topics, including legal aspects, challenges of underserved populations and legislation surrounding elder justice, to name a few. Participants are welcome to take all ten classes or attend just the ones of interest to them. UpEAC brings in professionals from other disciplines to share their knowledge.

This course is designed to equip professionals with: evidence-based approaches to identifying and responding to elder abuse; legal and ethical considerations in reporting and intervention; tools for cross-sector collaboration and advocacy; case studies and practical scenarios relevant to your field.

More information (including course schedule and descriptions, CEUs and cost) are on the Lifespan website -- Elder Abuse Prevention Certificate — Lifespan  

Early bird registration (20% off) is valid until Friday 12/5/2025. Classes start Tuesday 1/6/2026.

Join virtually to discuss books and share ideas 3-4 times yearly. Members of the Elder Justice Community are welcome. Co-presented by the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)and National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Research to Practice (R2P) Interest Group.

Book title: The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

Please contact elaine.chen@med.usc.edu if you have any questions about the book club. 

Join the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault for an in-depth workshop on the purpose and collection of sexual assault forensic exams. This workshop is intended for anybody who works with survivors of sexual violence and/or community members who would like more information on the resources available to survivors in a hospital setting. This workshop will cover: the components of a forensic exam and a drug-facilitated sexual assault forensic exam, the role of an advocate, the New York State Sexual Assault Survivor Bill of Rights, and the options that survivors have for reporting, getting kits tested, and accessing support resources.

By the end of the training, participants will be able to: -Provide accurate, trauma-informed information to survivors or community members about what to expect during a hospital visit following a sexual assault. -Communicate survivors’ legal rights clearly, particularly those outlined in the New York State Survivors Bill of Rights. -Describe the handling, storage, and potential legal implications of sexual assault forensic exam kits. -Refer survivors to appropriate advocacy and healthcare resources in New York City and nationwide.

Join for an interactive virtual training designed specifically for aging service professionals working with older adults in community-based settings and programs.

In this session, we will explore the ethical principles of supporting older adults with mental health challenges. We will examine ageism, intersectionality and discrimination as they relate to the ethics of social work practice. We will discuss our collective ethical responsibility to the people we support, and examine how to apply ethical principles to set and maintain professional boundaries in our work.

Speaker: Alexandra Webb, LCSW, SVP for Training and Initiatives, Service Program for Older People

Upstate Elder Abuse Center (UpEAC) at Lifespan’s NYS E-MDT Initiative Webinar Series

Social connections that create a sense of caring, contributing, and community have a range of benefits for health and well-being at all ages and are especially important as we age. While most older people do not experience social isolation and loneliness, those who do are at risk for negative outcomes as they age, including lower quality of life and poor physical and mental health. They may also be more vulnerable to fraud, scams, and elder abuse. Social connection may help to mitigate these risks and improve quality of life.

In this presentation, Abigail Hoffman from the HOPE Lab at the University of Rochester will describe reasons why attending to one’s ‘social health’ is important and social connection is a form of medicine! She will discuss research on the links between SIL and vulnerability to financial scams, as well as evidence-based strategies to increase quantity and quality of social connections. She will also discuss our attitudes about ageing and how those shape how we engage with others as we age. She will share resources for increasing social connection and describe current research to increase social connection and well-being.

The National Adult Protective Services (NAPSA) Monthly Scam Advice Forum

Every day, countless fake websites mimic trusted banks, retailers, and organizations — fooling consumers and evading takedown efforts. But who’s really behind these scams, and why are they so hard to stop? Join for an eye-opening forum featuring Derek Smyth of Artists Against 419, a volunteer group dedicated to exposing fraudulent websites and supporting law enforcement. Derek will take us behind the scenes of online fraud, exploring how domain and hosting companies play a role and what’s being done to make the internet safer for everyone.

Description: Crooks use a variety of fake websites to further their frauds, often copying those of banks and other real companies. How often does this happen, and why aren’t these easily removed? What is the role of domain name companies and web hosting companies? Who is behind creating these sites?

Presenter: Derek Smyth from Artists Against 419. Derek joined them at the end of 2003 shortly after it was created as an anti-scam consumer activist group. Derek spends his free time wandering around on the internet in all the wrong places, trying to make sense of threats folks don't normally recognize. This information is shared with partner groups such as anti-virus vendors and law enforcement in an effort at making the internet a slightly safer place for consumers.

Presented by the University of Buffalo Office of Continuing Education, School of Social Work 

Description: During the Civil Rights Movement, Assistant Secretary of Labor Daniel Patrick Moynihan authored The Negro Family: The Case for National Action. His 1965 report drew national attention to racial inequality and poverty, while controversially characterizing challenges in Black communities as rooted in family instability. Sixty years later, the UB School of Social Work invites you to reflect on the report’s legacy.

Keith A. Alford, PhD, dean of the School of Social Work, will moderate a panel exploring the report’s historical context, its influence on social welfare, education, urbanization, stereotypes, and health inequities, and its lasting impact on social work with Black families. Attendees will gain tools to apply culturally responsive, anti-racist frameworks.
Learning Objectives: Analyze the historical context, major arguments, and controversies of the Moynihan Report; Evaluate the Moynihan Report’s influence on U.S. social policy and public perceptions of Black families; Identify the ways in which narratives from the Moynihan Report continue to shape structural inequities and inform contemporary challenges in social welfare, education, urbanization, identity perceptions, health inequities, and policy.

In partnership with Lifespan of Greater Rochester, LiveOn NY is offering a FREE elder abuse prevention webinar series.

Join for the third and final session of the series, during which we’ll discuss safety planning options for the different types of abuse. Together we’ll learn trauma-informed responses when discussing safety planning, discuss multiple ways to offer a safety plan with an elder abuse victim, and safety plans for victims who are fleeing from the alleged abuser or choosing to stay in contact.

Speaker: Stephanie Good, MSW, Helpline Coordinator, Elder Abuse Helpline for Concerned Persons, Lifespan of Greater Rochester

Continuing Education*: This training is eligible for 1.5 Contact Hours for New York State Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW) & Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)

Social isolation can contribute to financial exploitation. Older adults are at higher risk for social isolation due to changes in health and social connections that can come with growing older.

This webinar from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will feature emerging research and innovative programs that shed light on interventions that may protect older adults from financial exploitation. Speakers include:

• Dr. Duke Han, professor of psychology and family medicine at USC

• S. Orlene Grant, MSN, president and CEO, Juanita C. Grant Foundation

• Dr. Jessica Bibbo, senior research scientist at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), USC Family Caregiver Support Center, and Hollywood, Health & Society are hosting a webinar to highlight the power of storytelling to explore and elevate caregiving relationships in media. Audience’s attitudes are shaped by the stories they consume - whether through television, film, social media, or literature. Too often, nuances of caregiving and related challenges are not portrayed or inaccurately depicted in popular culture.

 This webinar is designed for caregivers, older adults, service providers, and media and elder justice professionals and will delve into why these stories matter, how they influence public perceptions, and how they can be used to increase awareness of resources for safe and supportive caregiving.

Speakers: 

• Laura Mosqueda, MD, Senior Advisor, National Center on Elder Abuse and Professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC

• MT Connolly, JD, Writer, lawyer, researcher, MacArthur Foundation Fellow, and President of the Elder Justice Collaborative

• Donna Benton, PhD, Research Associate Professor of Gerontology and Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

• Kate Folb, MEd, Director, Hollywood, Health & Society, USC Norman Lear Center

Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) throughout New York State are continuing their Building Better Health Webinar Series: A Lunch and Learn webinar series

Presented by: Christopher Norman, PhD(c), Nurse Practitioner

Learning Objectives: Examine how ageism, cultural biases, and geography may influence the perception and treatment of older people. Distinguish age-related brain changes from potential signs of developing cognitive impairment in older adults. Recognize common warning signs of potentially developing cognitive impairment in older adults. Identify national, regional, and local resources for caregiver assistance.

FREE CEs available for Social Work, LMHC, OT, PT, SLP

As a follow-up to the presentation and subsequent discussions at the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Financial Exploitation Summit in Bellevue WA on 9/11/25, NAPSA wishes to support you in navigating the Bank of America portal when working exploitation cases. NAPSA will be hosting a webinar to introduce this process. Please keep in mind that this collaboration presents an opportunity for Bank of America to streamline and improve processes. NAPSA encourages you to take part in these conversations and share your experiences.

Speaker info: Lisa Chelotti – Assistant Vice President, Litigation Operations Support Analyst.

This call will not be recorded.

Presented in collaboration with Lifespan, St. John’s, and Nazareth University, this is part of a two-day series.

Resonance. It speaks to the emotional depth and lasting impact of connection, compassion, and shared experience. This series centers on the art of connecting with others, the joy of music, and the celebration of caregiving in all of its forms. A panel of experts facilitated by Nazareth University’s Dr. David Steitz will discuss the therapeutic properties of music in the field of caregiving and older adult care.

Audience: Professionals, Students, & Family/Friend Caregivers providing care to someone living with memory loss

In-person at Nazareth University, 4245 East Ave, Otto A. Shults Community Center, Rochester, NY 14618

Join for an interactive virtual training designed specifically for aging service professionals working with older adults in community-based settings and programs.

Older people often face a variety of barriers upon release from incarceration. They often experience accelerated aging as a result, making their behavioral health and wellbeing central to their return to the community. In this session, we will explore the mental health and substance use needs in older people recently released from incarceration, and some interventions to provide treatment. We will examine the qualities of anti-ageist, anti-ableist, trauma informed settings to more fully support their needs and help them develop community and connection.

Speaker: Alexandra Webb, LCSW, SVP for Training and Initiatives, Service Program for Older People

The Dr. Rocco Vivenzio Memorial Symposium, presented by Lifespan of Greater Rochester.

Working together to create the care we want for our loved ones-and ourselves.

Featuring: Dr. Daniel Ari Mendelson, MS, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, Geriatrician and palliative medicine physician, educator, Chief Medical Officer at Jewish Home, and Professor of Geriatrics and Aging at the University of Rochester. He is recognized nationally for advancing person-centered care for older adults.

In person at the Jewish Community Center, Hart Auditorium, 1200 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester NY
$15.00 per person.

Presented by Lifespan of Greater Rochester as part of our November Information & Inspiration series.

A workshop offered via Zoom, it’s geared towards professionals to raise awareness of ageism, understand its negative impacts, and explore effective strategies for creating more inclusive and age-friendly environments. *Social work CEUS available.

The Upstate Elder Abuse Center (UpEAC) at Lifespan NYS E-MDT Initiative Webinar Series

Please join us as Kyle Giller, Esq., presents an overview of Small Claims Court, shares what cases are appropriate for filing there, and explains what to expect during a Small Claims Court hearing. Kyle manages the Small Claims Court Action Center, a statewide free hotline for providing guidance on Small Claims matters.

Presenter: Kyle Giller, Consumer Justice and Public Health Staff Attorney, New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG)

Join for an interactive virtual training designed specifically for aging service professionals working with older adults in community-based settings and programs.

In this session, we will explore the underlying factors that inform difficult interactions, to move towards increased empathy. We will identify personal responses to stress to take steps to “show up” for ourselves and set up for success. We will also learn targeted skills to set boundaries and communicate effectively with clients in distress. This approach is for more common, daily encounters in our settings that are difficult without being imminently dangerous.

Speaker: Alexandra Webb, LCSW, SVP for Training and Initiatives, Service Program for Older People

This webinar provides a high-level overview of major issues tribal elders face. This webinar includes a basic primer on who tribal elders are, a summary of key programs that can support tribal elders, and a review of resources focused on tribal elders from Justice in Aging and our partners. This webinar will discuss the role of the Older Americans Act, Social Security, Medicaid, Indian Health Services (IHS), and other services available to Native communities in supporting tribal elders as they age.

Presenters will discuss: • Who tribal elders are; • Justice in Aging’s resources on tribal elders; and • How advocates can improve service delivery for tribal elders.

Who Should Participate: Advocates for and professionals working with tribal elders, other aging and disability stakeholders, and advocates for tribal communities.

Presenters: • Sahar Takshi, Senior Attorney, Equity Advocacy • Denny Chan, Managing Director, Equity Advocacy

This National Adult Protective Services Association(NAPSA) Research to Practice (R2P) October Webinar will explore the findings of a study that investigated why nearly one-third of older adult abuse victims disengaged from a support service. What causes this drop-off? What can we do differently? We'll unpack the practical lessons learned and implications for working with and trying to retain clients in support services. Then, we’ll open the floor to a dynamic discussion about future research directions. I’ll share insights generated from the study and invite your input: What unanswered questions do you see in the context of Adult Protective Services? What kinds of research would truly support your work? How can we take this work forward?

Presenter: Jennifer Storey, PhD, is a Registered Forensic Psychologist and an Associate Professor in Forensic Psychology at the University of Kent (UK). Dr Storey’s published research focuses on the assessment and management of violence including older adult abuse, stalking, and intimate partner violence. This research has been funded by national and international organisations like the NIH, WHO and UK Home Office. Dr Storey is also the author of a violence risk assessment tool for the abuse of older people called the Harm to Older Persons Evaluation or HOPE which aids professional is assessing risk level and managing cases of older adult abuse. Dr Storey’s research has an applied focus and includes working closely with and training practitioners including judges, police, social workers, health and mental health professionals.

University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) Geriatric Medicine Community-Wide Grand Rounds

Speakers: from Lifespan of Greater Rochester- Paul Caccamise, LMSW, ACSW (Vice President of Programs), Dan Lyon, (Fraud and Scam Program Manager), Tracey Siebert-Konopko, LMSW (Director of Education, Training, and Research Initiatives)

Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the learner should be able to: describe the prevalence, incidence, and public health implications of elder abuse; identify local resources for survivors of elder mistreatment; and list the role of healthcare professionals in identifying elder mistreatment and referring patients for assistance and care.

Link: https://urmc.zoom.us/j/99743786411?pwd=36QHwEoZG5TrAK9RhuvoYLMhkdedk3.1

Meeting ID: 997 4378 6411

Passcode: 058052

For continuing education credit (CME, SW, LMFT, Psychology)
•	https://redcap.urmc.rochester.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=RPLXRR7R84WJXHWP 
•	Link active Wednesday 8:30am ET through Friday 5:00pm ET

This National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) R2P (Research to Practice) Journal Club session will discuss the timely and important topic of technology-facilitated abuse among older adults.

Speakers: David Burnes, PHD and Andie Macneil, MA MSW RSW

Americans lost nearly $13 billion to fraud in 2024. Imposter scams top the list of the type of fraud that’s most reported, with complex schemes involving government and business imposters increasingly draining people’s hard-earned savings. Join the American Banker Association (ABA) Foundation and experts from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for a discussion about the most common scams today, how they work and how to help your customers avoid them. The webinar will also offer tools to help protect your customers’ money, accounts and information.

The Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan’s NYS E-MDT Initiative Webinar Series

Tailored to professionals, this webinar provides an essential overview of fraud schemes, warning signs, and prevention strategies for scams involving cryptocurrency, bit coin, and artificial intelligence (AI). Discover the latest trends in these scams targeting older adults, as well as some methods to educate and assist those who are vulnerable to these high tech scams.

Presenter: Sheila Brewer-Montero, Fraud/Scam Prevention Coordinator Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan

The National Adult Protective Services (NAPSA) Monthly Scam Advice Forum

The September Forum will provide information on the four free national peer support programs for victims of transnational frauds, and in some cases for their family and caregivers. Learn more about each program and the groups they lead. They will also share their insights about working with those chronically revictimized from those leading or supervising these groups. Perspectives on what challenges and successes they are finding will be shared.

Michele Bovero will represent AARP. The AARP Fraud Victim Support group offers free emotional support sessions for people affected by fraud (victims and/or their loved ones). Trained peer facilitators conduct hour-long small group online sessions. Experiencing fraud can be devastating, but it does not have to define fraud victims or their loved ones. We offer between 6 and 7 sessions per week.

Jessica Grove will represent Give an Hour. Give an Hour is a national mental health organization offering clinical and nonclinical support to survivors and loved ones of those impacted by human made trauma. Since 2021, their Financial Fraud program offers weekly virtual peer support groups for survivors as well as loved ones and their nationwide network for licensed mental health professionals offers clinical support matching.

Kim Casci-Palangio will represent FightCybercrime.org. Their peer support program helps romance related fraud scam survivors through the healing process of loss and embarrassment, while teaching them cybercrime awareness and education. This 10 week program was built to support the participants’ mental well-being and decreasing rates of revictimization with aftercare support also provided. A licensed counselor is also part of facilitating each meeting.

Justin McCabe will represent the Fraud Awareness Network through Lifespan of NY. Lifespan provides information, guidance and more than thirty various services to older adults and their caregivers including financial counseling. They provide an ongoing weekly peer to peer program for fraud survivors nationally age 60 and over.