The
National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative has been awarded to the International Association for Indigenous
Aging by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). As we go through the transition, the information and
resources on this website will be transferred through ACL.
Data
There have been several projects developed through the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI) which will result/have resulted in valuable information and data.
Tribal
Elder Abuse Services Survey
The Tribal Elder Abuse Services Survey is a research study focusing on perceptions and availability of community Elder services, such as:
Information gathered during the Spring of 2021 will help inform planning for tribal Elder justice programs, develop a tribal Elder justice services online directory and interactive map, and develop training and resources to meet the needs of American Indian Tribes, Alaskan Villages, and Hawaiian Homesteads. The survey is sponsored by AARP.
Native Elder Maltreatment Survey
The Native Elder Maltreatment Survey (NEMS) helps Native American Tribes, Alaskan Villages, and Hawaiian Homesteads to understand the prevalence of Elder mistreatment, neglect, and financial exploitation in their respective communities.
What does the survey assess?
This survey uses the Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test to assess if Elders are at high risk
for mistreatment. The survey also uses the Native Elder Life Scale (NELS), which assesses neglect and financial
exploitation. The NELS provides insight on financial abuse, self-neglect, family neglect, and physical and
emotional harm by others.
How does NIEJI assist with the survey?
NIEJI provides training and technical assistance to communities to implement NEMS. We will supply paper copies
of the survey for your community. And we will assist in data analysis and producing meaningful and culturally
informed reports and fact sheets.
What is NIEJI's research approach?
NIEJI's approach is consistent with the Tribal Participatory Research model giving the community decision making
and oversight of the research process. NIEJI respects community research practices and data sovereignty. It is
your right to determine data collection, ownership, and application of data. NIEJI maintains, with community
approval, a de-identified aggregate data set to better understand elder mistreatment, abuse, guide our program
services, and scholarly publications. Your community will never be identified in our use of the aggregate
dataset.
How can our community use the survey data?
Your community can use the survey data for grant applications to support the need for funding to protect Elders.
The survey data provides support for the adoption of Elder abuse codes, education programs, Elder abuse
prevention programs and campaigns, Elder Protection Teams/Multidisciplinary Teams, or Elder coalitions. The data
can be used to inform the community about the prevalence of Elder abuse.
If you are interested in conducting NEMS you may review the documents or contact our office for more information.
Research Findings from the NEMS Pilot Survey
NEMS: Elder American Indian Women's Experiences
Spiritual Abuse Among American Indian Elderly
Maltreatment of American Indian ElderlyNEMS Materials