Silence protects perpetrators, not their victims
You can help break the silence, and advance (elder) justice
This ‘letter to the editor’ was submitted to, but not accepted by, The New York Times for publication.
To the Editor:
Re “When It Comes to Money, Silence Is Rarely Golden” (nytimes.com Nov 6)
Silence may be particularly costly and traumatizing in the context of elder abuse and financial exploitation.
Paul Sullivan writes, “The grandson of Brooke Astor the socialite and philanthropist, sued his father for depriving Mrs. Astor of proper care; the father was later convicted of siphoning off millions.”
I did not sue my father. I filed a guardianship petition, which was awarded. It was my naïve hope was that this “family affair” would be quietly settled. But, for my grandmother and millions of older adults, elder abuse is not a family affair, nor a “civil” matter. Elder abuse is a crime; it needs to be treated as such.
If I could do it over again I would have called authorities, immediately. I remain grateful to the elder abuse unit in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. As we entered the criminal justice system, DA staff coupled compassion with Kleenex, helping us to find our voice and tell our story — allowing us to advance from taking a stand and helping my grandmother to taking the stand, in criminal court.
Our silence protects perpetrators, not their victims. Each of us can help break the silence — and contribute to societyʼs success in detecting, responding to, and even preventing abuse and exploitation.
Philip C. Marshall
South Dartmouth, Ma.
The writer is professor emeritus at Roger Williams University and the grandson of the late Brooke Astor, New York City philanthropist and elder abuse victim.
