We are
Voices for Seniors
The Full Story
VoicesForSeniors was founded by two sisters, Vivian Rivera Zayas and Alexa Rivera. Their heartbreaking journey began the day their mother died unexpectedly in a Long Island nursing home. Ana Martinez, who was due to be released, suffered under the care of that nursing home after contracting COVID-19. Vivian and Alexa were told she was healthy and safe, when all the while she was clinging to life, struggling to breathe. The nursing home’s omissions and blatant lies played a part in the sisters’ harrowing struggle to find answers. Their mother’s untimely death has fueled their tireless efforts to hold healthcare workers and government officials accountable, and pursue real change so that no senior citizen or family will have to endure the pain they did. We welcome you to join their journey in giving our seniors a voice.
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About Us
VoicesForSeniors is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that was started in honor of Ana Martinez. Ana was born in Puerto Rico, she was a woman of grit, dedication, and perseverance. She was loved dearly by family and friends. After knee replacement surgery, Ana sought physical therapy at Our Lady of Consolation in West Islip, New York. What should have been a simple 4 to 6 weeks of therapy, resulted in her untimely death within those nursing home walls.
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Our Lady of Consolation’s inadequate, unreliable communication, dangerously flawed infectious disease protocols, and a Governor’s irresponsible mandate requiring nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients all contributed to her tragic, and very preventable death.
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Devastated and heartbroken, her daughters Vivian and Alexa sprung into action. Their efforts to fight for our most vulnerable seniors and their families led to the creation of VoicesForSeniors. They have started Facebook groups, held rallies, and worked on legislative initiatives to put protections in place so other families do not face the same anguish they did.
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We encourage you to get involved and share their story.
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Mission Statement
The mission of VoicesForSeniors is to significantly improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable, elderly communities through grassroots initiatives and advocacy for protective legislation and reform.
VoicesForSeniors uses online resources and social media to change the public’s perspective on senior citizens, and to educate others about the shortcomings of nursing homes and current protective legislation.
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Core Principles
A Loud and Clear Conversation
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Foster a widespread, productive conversation among the public and promote legislative safeguards for those generations who paved the way for many of us through their accomplishments and efforts.
Education Initiatives
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Educating, connecting, and uniting people of all walks of life, both in and out of the government, to recognize the pitfalls and perils our senior citizens face. As a united front, we can devise improved options for care and protection to allow our seniors to age with dignity and respect.
The Hard Truth
1 in 5
A recent study found that 1 in 5 older adults reported elder abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Types of abuse include:
Physical, Sexual, Emotional, Confinement, Passive Neglect, Willful Deprivation, and Financial Exploitation​
87.9 M
The number of elderly adults (over the age of 65 years) entering nursing homes is expected to increase in the upcoming decades. In the United States, the number of elderly adults over 65 is projected to grow from 47.8 million in 2015 to 87.9 million in 2050 as the Baby Boomer generation ages past 65 years.
1 in 24
Although elder abuse is common, only approximately 1 in 24 occurrences are reported to the authorities. A great deal of senior citizens suffer in silence for a variety of reasons, including a lack of resources, a lack of understanding, shame, physical incapacity, and fear of reprisals. Because of dementia or other cognitive disabilities, some victims might not even be aware that they have been victimized.