(gentle music) - [Announcer] NPT Reports: Aging Matters.

- I'm Grace Smith, Executive Director of AgeWell Middle Tennessee.

Yes, you're welcome.

We have been involved in tracking elder abuse and doing community education for at least a decade.

AgeWell Middle Tennessee is the designated local chapter of the Tennessee Vulnerable Adults Coalition.

So on a quarterly basis, we convene organizations that provide victim support, elder abuse education to come together and share information, trying to foster more collaboration among organizations.

There are two things that we have seen in recent years as improvements to addressing elder abuse in Tennessee.

One is greater awareness of elder abuse and the importance of everyone being aware, looking for signs, and reporting it if you suspect abuse, neglect, or some type of financial exploitation.

The other thing we've noticed is more collaboration and breaking down silos between organizations, comparing information, sharing resources, and certainly with the creation of the VAPIT teams.

Talking through cases collaboratively and figuring out what role each organization could play in helping that individual.

CREVAA is another new development in Tennessee that is available through the area agencies on aging and human resource agencies across the state, and really set up to offer comprehensive case management, which includes everything from emergency housing, to food support, to case management, to bring in other services, home repairs, modification.

It's a one-stop shop to really help meet people's needs.

Now when people call us, we can say there are resources available through CREVAA that can help you across the state of Tennessee.

CREVAA really exists to help restore hope and to give assistance to people who have been victims of crime.

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