1st Speaker of the Month:

Diane Viera, DrPH

Seminar Title: Elder Abuse

Presentation Date: 06/22/2026

Presentation Time: 11:00 AM

Seminar Details: Diane E. Newman, DrPH, CHES, is a senior public health leader with over 20 years of experience in designing and evaluating community health, workforce development, and health education initiatives. Currently serving as both a Grant Administrator and the Director of the Neighborhood Wellness Center at Azusa Pacific University, she has led the development of more than 60 grant-funded projects totaling over $100 million. Her expertise lies in translating research into impactful programming, evidenced by her creation of the Street Medicine & Homeless Healthcare Certificate Program and her work on culturally responsive curricula for violence prevention. A graduate of Claremont Graduate University with a Doctorate in Public Health, Dr. Newman is a Certified Health Education Specialist who maintains active leadership roles in organizations such as the American Public Health Association and the Academy on Violence and Abuse.

Speaker Bio: Kristin Rigsbee is the Education and Outreach Specialist for the County of San Diego Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. She received her B.S in Psychology from Appalachian State University in Boone North Carolina. She has worked for the past 25 years in the long-term care facilities in San Diego County. She has worked for 20 years as a case manager/social worker in several skilled nursing facilities. She has also worked for 5 years as the Memory Care Director in assisted living. She has held her RCFE Administrators License while working in assisted living. Prior to coming to the Ombudsman Program, she worked as a care coordinator for an Elder Law Attorney. In 2014 she came to the Ombudsman Program in the position as the North Coastal Regional Coordinator. 6 months later she was moved to her current position in Outreach and Education. In 2017 she received the “Tools of the Trade” award from the California Long Term Care Ombudsman Association for innovation and excellence in training. She continues to recruit all volunteers as well as provide the state certification training for new Ombudsman, and all community and facility training regarding elder issues and mandated reporting.

Seminar Objectives:

• Participants will be able to define elder abuse as intentional or negligent acts within a relationship of trust and differentiate between its various forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect, and abandonment.
• Participants will analyze the epidemiology of elder abuse, recognizing that while approximately 1 in 6 older adults experience abuse globally, only an estimated 4% to 5% of cases are actually reported.
• Participants will identify key risk factors that contribute to elder abuse, such as social isolation, cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia), caregiver burnout, and financial dependency.
• Participants will learn to detect physical and behavioral indicators of abuse, including injuries inconsistent with explanations, frequent ER visits, sudden changes in legal or financial documents, and unmet basic needs.
• Participants will outline the responsibilities of healthcare providers, which include routine screening, thorough documentation, and adherence to state-specific mandatory reporting laws.
• Participants will be able to apply trauma-informed care principles—such as ensuring safety, empowering autonomy, and avoiding re-traumatization—while utilizing prevention strategies like caregiver support programs and multidisciplinary intervention teams.