Protecting older populations through policy

Pamela Teaster is adding a new chapter to her history of helping protect older people.

The director of the Center for Gerontology and professor of human development and human science, Teaster has advocated for older adults and vulnerable populations, ensuring that they are protected from abuse by those around them, for more than 20 years. 

Last year, Teaster began a new aspect of this work as a part of the Health and Aging Policy Fellowship, a competitive year-long national program based in Washington, D.C.  

“I am thrilled to assist with important policy and practices that have the potential to improve the lives of older adults who experience or are at risk of experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation,” said Teaster. “I will be working on projects related to elder mistreatment, the long-term care ombudsman, and guardianship.” 

Fellows are selected each year through a national competition based on their commitment to health and aging issues, leadership potential, and interest in impacting policy. Teaster was chosen as a 2023-24 nonresidential fellow — meaning she is not located in Washington, D.C. — and has been placed with the Administration for Community Living. Teaster will be working with the administration through September and will make occasional trips to the capital as needed.

“I went back to school in 2020 to get another master’s degree, this time in bioethics,” Teaster said. “After I graduated, I was not sure what to do next, and that is when a friend of mine mentioned the fellowship. It seemed like the perfect next step for me, and I liked the idea of marrying research and public policy.” 

Teaster’s work comes at a time when the population of Americans 65 and older is growing rapidly and the various abuses of the population are staggeringly high.

According to the National Council on Aging, up to 5 million older Americans are abused every year and the annual loss by victims of financial abuse is estimated to be at least $36.5 billion. Elder abuse includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; exploitation; neglect; and abandonment.

Teaster’s work in this area began after she graduated with her Ph.D. and graduate certificate in gerontology from Virginia Tech in 1997. She has conducted extensive research on elder abuse and policy, authored seven books and hundreds of peer-reviewed articles, reports, and book chapters while also playing a significant role in creating legislation for public guardianship programs in Virginia. 

“One of the most interesting things for me is the issues that arise when giving away our authority to somebody else when we are nearing the end of life,” said Teaster. “You can look at it locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, each presenting unique questions and concerns, yet there is a relative inattention to it public policy-wise.” 

Teaster’s ongoing research focuses on several areas, including the mistreatment of older adults and vulnerable populations, end-of-life decision-making, public policy and affairs, ethical treatment, human rights issues, financial exploitation, and public and private guardianship. 

“Even 20 years in, I have yet to get tired of this work,” Teaster said. “It takes me in a variety of directions, and I have seen so many tangible things come out of the work I have been a part of.” 

Throughout the new fellowship, Teaster hopes to gain a deeper understanding of policies as they are applied to various contexts along with learning better methods to develop and implement programs and policies that are beneficial to elderly and vulnerable populations.  

“Once the fellowship is over, I hope to continue researching, consulting, working with amazing people and crafting policies that change lives and make the world a better place,” Teaster said.