There are more than 5 million elder abuse victims in the United States and it is estimated that one in 10 adults over the age of 60 is a victim. Aging Matters: Abuse & Exploitation, the eighth documentary in Nashville Public Television’s NPT Reports: Aging Matters series, explores the issues behind elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. The documentary premieres Thursday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m. on NPT.
The primary risk factor for elders is isolation, Kathleen Quinn, former executive director of the National Adult Protective Services Association, says in the film. Aging Matters: Abuse & Exploitation offers insight from a number of people working the frontlines of identifying and dealing with abuse, including law enforcement officials, social services personnel and community leaders.
Several surprising and thought-provoking facts about elder abuse are shared in the documentary. For example, there are more victims of elder abuse than there are of child abuse and domestic violence combined. And while exploitation by scammers and other strangers grabs the most headlines, the majority of perpetrators are people close to and trusted by the victim, people who are an integral part of the elder’s life.
In the second half hour of the broadcast, a panel of experts moderated by NPT senior producer LaTonya Turner considers two scenarios – physical abuse and financial exploitation – and what to do if you suspect either situation.
A preview screening and discussion of Aging Matters: Abuse & Exploitation is set for Wednesday, Nov. 16, at FiftyForward Patricia Hart Building with panelists Lauren Angulo, Victory Over Crime Director, FiftyForward; Teresa Clark, FiftyForward client; Zoe Sams, Davidson County Assistant District Attorney General; and Ardie Griffin, Davidson County Assistant District Attorney General.
Aging Matters: Abuse & Exploitation was produced by Will Pedigo, who previously produced the Aging Matters Healthy Aging and Economics of Aging documentaries. Pedigo has also worked on NPT’s Veterans Coming Home, Children’s Health Crisis and Next Door Neighbors documentary series.
The NPT Reports: Aging Matters series is hosted by Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Kathy Mattea. Aging Matters: Abuse & Exploitation is made possible by the generous support of the West End Home Foundation, the Jeanette Travis Foundation, The HCA Foundation and Cigna-HealthSpring. Additional support provided by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Jackson National Life Insurance Company and AARP Tennessee.
Additional broadcast times for Aging Matters: Abuse & Exploitation are below; the documentary will also be available for online viewing at wnpt.org/agingmatters/.
- Monday, Nov. 21, 8 a.m. on NPT2
- Tuesday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m. on NPT2
- Saturday, Nov. 26, 9 p.m. on NPT2
- Sunday, Nov. 27, 5 p.m. on NPT2
- Friday, Dec. 9, 9 p.m. on NPT
About Aging Matters: NPT Reports: Aging Matters is a major initiative designed to open a community-based conversation about what older citizens in Middle Tennessee need to optimize their quality of life and what the community needs to do to prepare for a coming explosion in our aging population. Over the course of several years, NPT has focused on issues such as caregiving, finances, end-of-life issues, dementia and Alzheimer’s through documentaries, televised town halls or panel discussions, Aging Matters updates, community engagement conversations, a project website, interactive online screenings and DVD distribution.