For Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, the annual Celebration of Seniors has always been about the people in the room: the older adults he has spent nearly 12 years fighting to protect. This year, the feeling was mutual.
The June 12 event at White’s of Westport drew more than 700 people, filling every corner of the venue with the energy that has made the Celebration of Seniors the largest event of its kind in the South Coast, and possibly beyond.
About 650 older adults enjoyed a free breakfast while hearing from speakers on topics ranging from fraud and elder abuse to home care supports. All 70 vendor tables were crowded with attendees seeking information and the many giveaways on offer. For those who needed a breather after filling their bags, chair massages provided a welcome rest.
This year’s event carried special weight. Quinn, who is retiring at the end of the year after three terms and nearly 12 years as district attorney, hosted his final Celebration of Seniors. It was Quinn who launched the event in 2015, and Coastline CEO Justin Lees made sure the event crowd of 700-plus knew it.
“What began as a small gathering at Bristol Community College has grown into what you see today, taking up every single square foot here at White’s of Westport,” Lees said. He described Quinn as a model public servant who made the prevention of elder abuse and financial exploitation a cornerstone of his tenure. “He has been an effective advocate, a great community partner, and a strong district attorney.”
Quinn has long made elder financial exploitation a signature cause, delivering the same message at events across the region with a call-and-response that his audiences know by heart. If you don’t know who is on the phone, what do you do? The answer comes back loud and confident every time: Don’t answer it.
On Thursday, he kept it simple and direct. “Somehow you get a threatening call that says go down to the Bitcoin machine. Don’t do it,” he told the room. “The DA is telling you the sheriff’s not coming after you, the FBI, ICE, whoever they are, they’re not coming after you. It’s a tragedy to see somebody who’s worked hard their whole lives put 20 grand in a machine and never see it again. And it’s happening quite often.”
He also took a moment to reflect on the people in front of him. “It’s important to me to prioritize our seniors,” Quinn said. “You have given so much to our communities over the years, raising families, making sacrifices. Hopefully your example continues. There’s certainly reason to be concerned about the state of affairs now, but there’s still a lot of good out there and there’s good out there because of people like you.”
Making her first appearance at the event, state Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell brought both a personal and professional connection to the South Coast. A Dartmouth resident, Campbell said her move from Boston was among the best decisions her family has made. “This community has already poured so much into my family and my two beautiful boys,” she said.
Campbell pushed back on the idea that older adults should be seen primarily through the lens of vulnerability. “We see you as the backbone of the Commonwealth,” she told the audience, “as folks who contributed to this incredible state to make it what it is, as leaders in your families, your communities, and in your own right.” She described protecting older residents not just as an opportunity but as “a responsibility, a significant one, to make sure that we are protecting you and giving you tools to continue to live your life with dignity.”
Among the first actions Campbell took as AG was establishing an Elder Justice Unit. Her office, she said, is actively prosecuting cases of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, including in long-term care settings sometimes in coordination with local district attorneys. She encouraged attendees to connect with the AG’s New Bedford office, which is currently expanding its staff.
In her comments and others’, the threat of elder abuse was described as real and local.
Bristol Aging and Wellness Protective Services Director Jennifer Matthews reported that her office received 477 abuse reports in April and 427 in May alone. She urged community members to stay alert and act on their instincts. “Anytime you have reasonable cause to believe abuse has happened, or concern that it may be happening, we encourage you to please file a report,” Matthews said. Reports can be made by calling the state hotline at 1-800-922-2275 or through mass.gov. All reporter information is kept confidential.
Lees echoed the call to awareness. “It’s a worldwide issue, but unfortunately it’s just as prevalent locally as it is anywhere else on the globe,” he said. “By increasing your knowledge on this issue, you can protect yourselves and others from this all-too-common threat.”
Quinn closed out his final Celebration of Seniors the way he has always approached the job focused on the people he serves. When he announced his retirement in January, he offered a reflection that seemed to capture everything the room felt on Thursday: “I have tried to be a District Attorney who listened, who respected differing perspectives, and who worked to ensure that justice was administered thoughtfully and fairly to all.”
If this year’s celebration was any indication, the feeling of respect runs both ways.
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