SeniorNavigator and The Virginia Center on Aging worked collaboratively to pilot an innovative, positive, confidential, community-based and interactive internet project focused on the important issues of domestic violence in later life and elder abuse. The project resulted in an online solution center offering a person-centered resource for service providers, individuals experiencing domestic violence, and “trusted community resources” such as family, friends and clergy.

This live one-hour webinar discussed the issues of elder abuse and domestic violence in later life. Additionally, it provided the faith-based community, service providers in aging and violence prevention and other interested individuals with a key new resource to help them respond appropriately and assist people in abusive situations get the help they need.

PANELISTS

Lisa Furr, MA, is the Project Coordinator for the Central Virginia’s Task Force on Domestic Violence in Later Life, a part of the Virginia Center on Aging at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. The Task Force is a local partnership of organizations working since 1998 to raise awareness and improve the community response to women aged 50 and older who experience domestic, sexual or family violence. The Task Force does direct work with the four local city and counties and offers technical support statewide. Lisa formed and works with multidisciplinary teams in three jurisdictions – each with a different persona. A member of the Board for the Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Lisa also chairs their conference committee.

Lisa also has served on the governing body (board) of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and is a state wide trainer for the Alliance. She previously was at Safe Harbor, a domestic violence program, as the associate director of special services in charge of the shelter and education, then as the Community Educator and Volunteer Coordinator. Prior to that she worked as the Program Coordinator for ROSMY from 1998 to 2002 where she managed youth services; volunteers and coordinated outreach and educational programs. Lisa also served as the Volunteer Services Coordinator for over 200 volunteers at Richmond AIDS Ministry and worked as a Hotline Counselor for the Virginia Department of Health’ AIDS/ STD Hotline.

Over the years she has worked as a camp director, educator, and for a few years as a travel agent. Some of the workshops she’s conducted locally, statewide and nationally have been on such topics as community partnerships, sexual assault in later life, domestic violence’s effects on children, domestic violence in the lesbian and gay community, understanding white privilege, conflict resolution and the faith communities response to domestic violence. She has over twenty–five years experience in group dynamics, training, diversity, and human resource management. Lisa holds a Master’s degree from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education.

Adrienne Johnson, MS, joined the SeniorNavigator team in 2004 and has held various aging related positions in her career. As Executive Director of SeniorNavigator, she works in partnership with the public, non-profit, and private sectors and is responsible for the development, marketing, board oversight and operational management of SeniorNavigator. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Adrienne served as a member of SeniorNavigator’s Leadership Team while performing her duties as Director of Website Operations. As Director of Website Operations, she was responsible for the oversight of the SeniorNavigator, VirginiaNavigator and disAbilityNavigator websites and management of website content and data based on consumer needs and current issues in aging. Additionally, she has served as project and grant manager for several of SeniorNavigator’s major initiatives.

Adrienne earned her Master’s degree in Gerontology with a concentration in Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Connecticut. She serves on the board of the Virginia Quality Healthcare Network (VQHN); as Secretary of the Virginia Elder Rights Coalition (VERC); as stakeholder representative for Virginia’s Project 2025; as well as a host of other coalitions and committees serving the aging and disability communities throughout Virginia.