Gen Silent: a critical documentary about LGBT elders

Mystic Valley Elder Services is pleased to announce that we will be hosting a community screening of this critically acclaimed documentary about the particular trials facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender elders.

Buy tickets now for our Wednesday, March 21 screening of GEN SILENT at 7pm. Tickets are $7 through March 1 and $10 each thereafter. Group tickets (10 or more) are available at a discounted rate. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and refreshments. 

More information about the film and directions to the theatre can be found on our website, www.mves.org/gensilent.php.

Elder Suicide: public health challenge

Over at the Huffington Post, Professor Michael Friedman of Columbia University writes about the surprisingly high rate of suicide among the elder population: 15 a day, or 5,400 a year.

"The frequency of suicide among older adults is not well-known, probably because older adults die from many other causes....But the fact of the matter is that older adults complete suicide at a rate nearly 50 percent greater than people 15-24 years old. Older white men are particularly vulnerable, completing suicide at a rate three times that of the general population. White men over 85 are the population at highest risk; they take their own lives at about four times the rate of the general population."

Professor Friedman goes on to call for development of an age-friendly society, and notes that fears of dependency are among the top reasons for suicidal ideation in elders.

This is why Mystic Valley Elder Services has a special program that provides mental health care to elders who are unable or unwilling to leave their homes to seek clinical care. By sending appropriate mental health care professionals to the homes of elders who need treatment for mental health issues, Mystic Valley Elder Services is working to reduce the high incidence of elder suicide, to increase elder independence, and to improve the quality of life for all elders in our community.  (Finish reading this article about elder suicide at the Huffington Post.)

Top 10 Scams Targeting Seniors

The National Council on Aging has put together a critical list of financial scams that frequently harm seniors. One important fact of note? "Over 90% of all reported elder abuse is committed by an older person’s own family members, most often their adult children, followed by grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and others." To read the list, visit the NCOA website.

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Beacon bits is a supplement to The Beacon, the monthly enewsletter of Mystic Valley Elder Services. We are committed to ensuring that all of our community members have the information and resources they need. Visit us at www.mves.org.