When Help Was There
Four Stories of Elder Abuse
By Jim Vanden Bosch
For the Goldman Institute for Aging

This powerful video examines the crisis of elder abuse through four ethnically diverse cases of physical, emotional, and financial abuse.

Salud, a Hispanic mother, has lived for years in fear of the threats of her addicted, mentally ill son; the Rens, immigrants from China, have been forced out of their daughter's home and onto the streets by their son-in-law; Mrs. Allen, who is African-American, was physically abused by her husband for almost forty years; and Glen, who is white, was defrauded of his possessions and bank account by a younger friend.

But the video also describes how each of them was aided by a network of services: A support group helped Salud to understand that she was not at fault, and not alone; social service workers within the Chinese community helped the Rens to find work and affordable senior housing; legal assistance from a number of agencies enabled Mrs. Allen to protect herself from attack and to initiate divorce proceedings; and an adult protective services worker has been helping Glen get back on his feet again. Their stories illustrate the diversity and complexity of the problem of elder abuse, while also offering the reassurance that there is help available.

19 minutes
© 2000
Purchase $169 DVD
Order No. QA-335
ISBN (DVD) 1-57295-894-4

Related Films
Elder Abuse: Illuminates both the fear and ambivalence experienced by elderly people who are being abused by family members, and their struggles to find help.

I'd Rather Be Home: Follows the case of an elderly man who has been repeatedly abused by his son, over a period of seven years. (A continuation of a case from the film, Elder Abuse: Five Case Studies.)

A Safer Place: Profiles two elderly adults who were helped by social services agencies to recognize the abusive situations they were living in and seek assistance. A formerly abusive daughter is also interviewed.

Just to Have a Peaceful Life: This extract of a case originally profiled in Elder Abuse: Five Case Studies is a frightening demonstration of the patterns of dependency and denial that fuel the cycle of elder abuse.

Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence: This program will help nurses, physicians, social workers and other healthcare workers to detect domestic violence and intervene to "break the cycle."

To rent or purchase this film, please visit the Icarus Films website

HOME  ||  TITLE INDEX  ||  SUBJECT AREAS  ||  RESOURCES  ||  RETURN TO TOP
CONTACT FANLIGHT  ||  FAQ