While health care reform captured the national headlines, the EJA unquestionably deserves our attention. When asked about provisions of health reform that received little fanfare, Health and Human Secretary Kathleen Sebelius pointed to the EJA — legislation that gives our nation a solid framework to protect seniors from being beaten, neglected and exploited. She stated, “[The Elder Justice Act] has been an issue talked about for a very long time . . . . It’s now the law of the land. It was part of the underlying Senate bill, and I don’t think many people have ever focused on the fact that this is an important step forward for seniors in America.”

The reason this is an important step forward is because the EJA is the most comprehensive federal legislation ever enacted to combat elder abuse. The EJA authorizes increased federal resources and leadership to support state and community efforts to prevent, detect, treat, understand, intervene in and, where appropriate, prosecute elder abuse. It also authorizes funding for broad-based education and awareness efforts.

While this is a critical victory for today’s seniors and each of the 76 million boomers that have a one in ten chance of facing elder abuse as our society grays, the work is not done. We now need Congress to fund and implement the EJA. This process now sits in the hands of the appropriations committees in the House and Senate.

For now, all of us at Elder Justice Now would like to thank each of you who spoke up by writing to your Congressional Representative. Your voice made a difference. And for those of you who shared your story, a very special thanks. We know the strength this took. As Pat Smith, one of the courageous seniors so succinctly states, “I don’t think this is an issue people like to think or talk about.” While true, we all must continue this conversation.

To be a part of the national effort to raise awareness of this growing crisis, we encourage everyone reading this along with elders, members of the Aging Services Network, grassroots groups, senior centers, retirement homes, congregations, law enforcement, health care providers, academics and any individual with grandparents across the country to Host-A-Screening of the short documentary film, An Age for Justice: Confronting Elder Abuse in America. By hosting a community screening of the film you will be protecting the dignity of today’s seniors and helping to ensure we can all live free from abuse tomorrow.

Seeing the pain in someone’s eyes as they talk about atrocities they suffered and committed often by someone they love – especially by a son or daughter – has been the hardest thing about filming video stories for the Elder Justice Now campaign.

Working on this campaign, while tearful at times, has opened my eyes even more in to the rich lives of our seniors. I have been moved by the women and the men that I interviewed and by all of the stories of abuse that usually go unheard.

The most surprising thing has been the strength and power of the elders who had experienced the pain caused by abuse. However, many were ready to speak out against elder abuse and they did!

America’s seniors are often cast aside by a society that values youth and disdains aging. The people we interviewed for this campaign were NOT your stereotypical “elderly” who are often characterzed as weak and feeble. Their strength astounds me.

In New York, we were able to film at a few local senior centers. We had a blast! They not only welcomed us with open arms and talked to us about their experiences, they also let us film them having fun. We saw seniors who were belly dancing. Others were ballroom dancing, playing card games and working on the computer. We had lunch with one of the first female cardiologists. We had an afternoon snack at an Alzheimer’s support group. We were serenaded by a gentleman who wanted to share songs from his past and engaged in stimulating conversation.

I feel blessed everyday to work with seniors that have shaped this world and paved the way for me to do what I do today. Because of this, I feel truly impassioned to help in the fight for the Elder Justice Act.

Those who use public transportation in the District of Columbia are apt to see these Elder Justice Now bus stop signs. They are meant to raise awareness and concern about elder abuse, especially with members of Congress or those who work for them.

Each sign (there are three versions) urges passage of the Elder Justice Act  and a visit to this Web site.

The signs are located at several strategic locations around the city and the space is made available for free by Clear Channel Communications.

These posters are at bus kiosks across the street from the National Cathedral and near the corner of H and 17th Street NW.

To sign the petition or to take other actions that will ensure passage, click here.

If you are looking for reasons why it’s so important,  read the comments from those who have already signed the petition. They give the reasons why passage is so important to our nation’s elders. Feel free to add your own comments in reaction to this blog entry!

“I support funding for fighting elder abuse. The economic downturn has cut most of the infrastructure in my county and there is a great need to put it back in place.”– CA

“Elder abuse is appalling. It is unconsionable. We need this Act passed to gve our elders the respect they deserve and to allow us to benefit from the grace of their wisdom.” — MD

“Elder abuse is a hidden reality in our society. Please help us prevent abuse of our elders and develop a comprehesive response to prevent and intervene in these cases.” NY

“It comes as a shock that here in the United States we can pass the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act in1974 and 20 years later the Violence Against Women Act in 1994. yet there is no federal legislation that protects our elders.” — NY

“I work with the frail elderly who are often the victims of abuse by their own family members. We often don’t have the resources or legal means to protect them.” — NY

“The  humanty of our society is measured in how we treat our most vulnerable members.” — CA

“Abuse continues to rise, especially financial abuse and resources continue to decrease. Please help stop the suffering of our elders and [support] the systems that serve them.” — CA

“Seniors need protection, families need support and guidance…Passing the Elder Justice Act will help seniors get the care and respect they deserve.” — CA

“As a member of the Pennsylvania Council on Aging and having worked in aging services for 13 years, the need for this legislation is absolute.” — PA

“States can no longer bear the burden of adult protective services alone.” — WI

“Prosecution of elder abuse cases has improved, bu we still have a long way to go to protect our seniors.” — CA

“We should always protect all living creatures that cannot protect themselves. The elderly should not leave this world with their last days filled with neglect or abuse.” –NJ

Need I say more? Please sign the petition now.

October 17, 2009

There are important lessons to be learned about elder abuse in America from the now concluded Brooke Astor case.

One is the need to close the loop and ensure federal protection for the nation’s seniors, especially the vulnerable and the frail. Currently, there are federal laws governing domestic violence and child abuse, but few related to elder abuse. In some states like New York and California, there is great attention paid to prosecuting elder abuse. In others, there is not.

Another is that elder abuse can happen to anyone. Take Carolyn Crewey of Houston, Texas who, at age 90, lost her home, much of her furniture, and had her bank account compromised at the hands of a ‘good friend.’ Or, Vicki Bastion, 92, of Hayward, California who installed a security gate inside her home to protect her and what values she had left from her grandson and his gang-related friends who had moved in with her.

These video stories and hundreds of others the National Council on Aging and WITNESS have videotaped over the past six months as part of our Elder Justice Now campaign show the need for far more awareness, training and education about elder abuse. Families, caregivers, law enforcement and our financial institutions all need to be on the lookout for its signs.

As a baby boomer, I am concerned that there is little attention being paid to this issue just as the largest generation in history is entering its third age and turning 60. It’s time for Congress to pass the Elder Justice Act, a bill that would provide increased federal resources and leadership to support state and community efforts to prevent, detect, treat, understand, intervene in and, where appropriate, prosecute elder abuse.

What does this mean for the Elder Justice Act? It means that if the Finance Committee approves its version of health reform legislation later this week or next, the Senate will have once again approved the Elder Justice Act. But we still need the House in order for EJA to become law.

It also means your voice is crucial for securing House support for the Elder Justice Act.

To act today:

1) Write to or call your Senator or Representative today to request support for the EJA – include a link to one of the below videos or click here to upload from YouTube to make your message more powerful.

2) Sign this petition and call on the U.S. Congress to act now.

3) Share a story via text or video: help us break the silence by adding your voice to the national campaign and urge Congress to pass the Elder Justice Act now!

4) Forward this to your friends and anyone who cares about older Americans.

Thank you for your constant support!

You can help.

The Senate Finance Committee is considering the Elder Justice Act as an amendment to its health reform bill. This amendment would represent the most significant federal commitment to date to combat elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It provides an unprecedented and dedicated funding stream for Adult Protective Services (APS), which operate in all states and are the frontline workers helping elder abuse victims.

It is critical the Elder Justice Act pass now because elder abuse is a growing national epidemic. There is elder abuse occurring in every zip code in the United States affecting our health care system, our economy and our social fabric. Click VIDEO to see and hear the stories of some our America’s abused and neglected elders from older adults themselves, their families and those who serve them in local communities across the country. These elders and advocates share their stories and beliefs because we, as a country, have to step up and protect older Americans now. We hope that once you have seen their stories you will take up this charge along with us.

This is a critical moment and we need your help – please:

1) Write to or call your Senator or Representative today to request support for the EJA – include a link to one of these videos to make your message more powerful

2) Sign this petition and call on the U.S. Congress to act now

3) Share a story via text or video: help us break the silence by adding your voice to the national campaign and urge Congress to pass the Elder Justice Act now!

Thanks for your support!

Each year, an estimated 5 million elders in the U.S. are subject to physical, financial, and mental abuse resulting in illness, suffering, and premature death.   WITNESS and NCOA are working on a new video that will Break the Silence on this crisis and urge Congress to prioritize and pass the EJA.  Several elders and advocates have already sent their video messages to Congress.  You can take action too!

3 Things You Can Do Now

1. Sign this petition calling on Congress to Pass the EJA
2. Urge your senators and representatives and ask them to support the EJA
3. Help Break the Silence and Share Your Story of elder abuse via text or video

There is a silent crisis that effects every community in America: Elder abuse.  Each year an estimated 5 million of America’s older adults are beaten, ignored or financially exploited.  Yet, as a country, we remain silent about this growing crisis.

To begin to address this problem, Congress has an immediate opportunity to pass federal legislation that will provide a foundation from which we can begin to protect our country’s elders — the Elder Justice Act.  But we cannot do this without your help.

This Sunday, September 13, the United States will celebrate Grandparents Day.  Take this moment to honor the important elders in your life.  Please help us break the silence by adding your voice to the national campaign and urge Congress to pass the Elder Justice Act now!

Act Now

• Sign this petition to encourage Congress to Pass the Elder Justice Act
  
• Share a story below (in comments section)

As we’ve written about, WITNESS and the National Council on Aging have partnered to address a silent crisis in America: elder abuse. This summer and fall, dozens of video stories and testimonies about elder abuse, some from the estimated annual five million victims of elder abuse, are being gathered and shared to help break the silence and pass the Elder Justice Act, pending legislation that will provide holistic support to help detect, prosecute and prevent elder abuse.

Elder abuse can take many forms (which you can learn more about here and here), one of which is the financial abuse of seniors – the illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property or assets. Examples range from the financial abuse my colleague Kelly’s grandmother endured when she was swindled by a door-to-door salesman (read thief) to a family member signing checks from their elder’s account without permission.

Though underreported, the annual loss is estimated to be at least $2.6 billion, according to a recent report (pdf) from MetLife Mature Market Institute, produced in conjunction with the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Virginia Tech University. It goes on to state that the typical victim of elder abuse is a woman over 75 who lives alone and the “increased aging population, social changes, and technology advances will lead to a dramatic increase in the opportunity for a growing level of elder abuse”.