These are the various task forces utilized by the District Attorney's office. Click on the task force name for more detailed information.
Created in 2007, the Elder Abuse Task Force (EATF) is made up of personnel from the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services, members of the District Attorney’s Office, the Lehigh County Coroner, the Temple University Institute on Protective Services, police departments, financial institutions, social service agencies, health care professionals, and area hospitals.
Task force members have spoken to Crime Watch groups, banks and public organizations to raise awareness of the signs of elder abuse and neglect and to encourage citizens to report cases of suspected abuse. EATF members have participated in Senior Fest and other events for older adults and do PowerPoint presentations to crime watch and neighborhoods watch groups.
To obtain a brochure on elder abuse or to schedule a presentation for your organization, please call 610-782-3230.
If you believe you are a victim of elder abuse or neglect, or if you are concerned about the welfare of an older adult, please call the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services at 610-782-3200, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday and all day Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, call 610-782-3034. You can also call your local police department.
The EATF has partnered with the Lehigh Valley Gatekeepers Program, which is a collective community approach to connecting at-risk older adults to appropriate services. The goal is to keep them living safely and independently.
Gatekeepers are non-traditional referral sources who come into contact with older adults through their work and daily lives. They are trained to recognize warning signs and red flags that indicate an older adult may need help or support. They also are trained to understand the protocol for getting information for reporting and to report their concerns anonymously to the Gatekeepers Program. Members of the public, businesses and their employees are trained to make reports to the Gatekeepers intake line.
For more information on elder abuse and national efforts to improve life for older Americans, visit http://elderjusticenow.org.
Brochure on Elder Abuse and Neglect