Carmel’s Pat Smith relates the story of her husband, who has Alzheimer’s, who was taken in by a young woman in Las Vegas. Her criminal behavior led to credit card charges of some $750,000 for the Smiths and an FBI investigation.
Elder abuse affects seniors across all socio-economic groups, but “older” seniors are more likely to be victimized.
Your support is needed. Get involved. Take action now.
The Elder Justice Act would provide the support for state and community efforts and the resources needed by those who work on the front lines preventing, fighting and prosecuting elder abuse.
Linda Watts of Vallejos, CA says that because the laws are not strong enough, those who abuse the elderly are getting a free ticket and “it’s wrong.” She calls on Rep. George Miller (D-CA) to pass the Elder Justice Act.
For every one case of elder abuse, five go unreported.
The Elder Justice Act will increase the capacity of prosecutors across the country to bring elder abuse charges.
Your support is needed. Get involved. Take action.
Malikah Taylor, who works in adult protective services, urges Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) to pass the Elder Justice Act because education is desperately needed about elder abuse.
The numbers of those elderly who are abused will only grow as the baby boomers age into their 60s.
The Elder Justice Act would share best practices, provide education, awareness and training, increase the ability to prosecute elder abuse and ensure that front line workers have the resources and information they need.
Joan Steeves of Vallejo, CA has seen elder abuse first-hand in working with the police department and tells Rep. George Miller (D-CA) to pass the Elder Justice Act, because we need more rules and regulations governing abusive caregivers.
Elder abuse is a silent issue, robbing the nation’s elders of their dignity, their security and, in comes cases, costing them their lives.
The Elder Justice Act would fund a public awareness campaign around prevention and best practices targeting law enforcement, financial institutions, caregivers and family members.
Jill Nielsen of Alameda County, CA works in adult protective services and says that her agency needs additional support from the federal government – through passage of the Elder Justice Act — in order to protect our elders. “We can’t wait any longer,” she says.
Older adults who experience mistreatment have a 300% higher risk of death.
The Elder Justice Act would provide needed funds for those who have been fighting elder abuse on the front lines.
Jason Adamek, a manager of Adult Protective Services intake and veteran social worker, has seen the influence legislation can have on the reporting of elder abuse. He says a federal mandate is necessary to protect our elders.
There are an estimated 5 million elders who experience some form of abuse each year.
The Elder Justice Act will help identify and share the best ways to prevent abuse and protect America’s seniors.
Your support is needed. Get involved. Take action.
Molly Rogers, who works in adult protective services, says our culture is youth obsessed, makes our elders invisible and does not protect them. She urges Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) to pass the Elder Justice Act.
There are an estimated 5 million elders who experience some form of abuse each year.
The Elder Justice Act will help identify and share the best ways to prevent abuse and protect America’s seniors.
Teresa Guillen, who has worked in adult protective services for 20 years, tells of Gloria, a 72-year old Hispanic woman who was abused by her son. She urges Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to pass the Elder Justice Act.
Elder abuse affects seniors across all socio-economic groups, but “older” seniors are more likely to be victimized.
The Elder Justice Act would provide the support for state and community efforts and the resources needed by those who work on the front lines preventing, fighting and prosecuting elder abuse.
Mark Hassell of Monterey, California tells the story of his grandmother, Lillian, who is a victim of financial abuse. She is 99 years old and has Alzheimer’s. A ‘friend’ from church offered to help when due to her declining health, Lillian fell behind on her bills. Months of forgery, loan schemes, and foreclosures ensued, leaving her almost penniless.
Elder financial abuse is regarded as the third most commonly substantiated type of elder abuse, following neglect and emotional/psychological abuse.
It is time for Congress to pass the Elder Justice Act. Your help is needed.
Jamie Ottesen of Windsor, California who tells how her mother received third degree burns while in a care home for seniors. Instead of seeking medical care, the staff threw her in a cold shower, contacting no one. According to Jamie, the woman who ran the home was never found guilty of a crime and continues to run the home.
A Congressional committee discovered that 30% of the nursing homes in the country were cited for almost 9,000 instances of abuse between 1999 and 2001.
The Elder Justice Act will create a national database of information to develop better knwolege of the problem.
It is time for Congress to pass the Elder Justice Act. Your help is needed.
Cindy Healy, of Monterey, California, is a CPA who serves as a trustee and guardian for many area elders. She works alongside Adult Protective Services and families to help prevent financial elder abuse fraud, detect it where it happens, and reconcile the damages. She asks members of Congress to act immediately on behalf of the nation’s elders who need help now but also for all of us that are seniors to come. As the number of elders increases, so does the problem.
Between 2000 and 2004, reports of elder and vulnerable abuse in this country increased 20%.
The Elder Justice Act will create a federal office of Adult Protective Services, allowing for better coordination and informaton sharing nationwide.
It is time for Congress to pass the Elder Justice Act. Your help is needed.
This plea from Jaynry Mak Associate Director of the Elder Financial Protection Network in San Francisco, California, Jaynry asks Congress to act now in order to prevent more elders from suffering from financial exploitation and scams.
Jerome Walker, who works with Adult Protective Services, knows how serious a problem elder abuse is in America. Walker, of Vallejo, CA, urges Rep. George Miller (R-CA) to pass the Elder Justice Act.
There are an estimated 5 million elders who experience some form of abuse each year.
The Elder Justice Act will help identify and share the best ways to prevent abuse and protect America’s seniors.
Cynthia, Vicki Bastion’s niece, describes how her aunt, in fear for her safety and to protect her belongings, put a metal security door on her bedroom. Vicki’s grandson, who lived with her, had invited gang members, drug pushers and prostitutes to live in her home.
Older Americans, especially the very old and vulnerable, should not have to live in fear of being abused physically, psychologically or financially.
The Elder Justice Act would provide the resources needed to help those who now fight elder abuse with scarce resources and fragmented systems.
Erika Falk of Oakland, CA is a clinical psychologist and says that there is a “dementia tsunami” coming as boomers age and that elder abuse will only increase. She calls on Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) and Congress to pass the Elder Justice Act.
The numbers of those elderly who are abused will only grow as the baby boomers age into their 60s.
The Elder Justice Act would share best practices, provide education, awareness and training, increase the ability to prosecute elder abuse and ensure that front line workers have the resources and information they need.
Cindy Rasmussen, who works for San Francisco’s Adult Protective Services, says her program has been decimated by budget cuts. With the growth of the senior population, she says the problem will only get worse.
The numbers of those elderly who are abused will only grow as the baby boomers age into their 60s.
The Elder Justice Act would share best practices, provide education, awareness and training, increase the ability to prosecute elder abuse and ensure that front line workers have the resources and information they need.
Mary Joy Quinn says that most senior think abuse hasn’t really happened to them and often do not tell anyone about it. They need better education about how to recognize and deal with elder abuse.
Elder abuse is a silent issue, robbing the nation’s elders of their dignity, their security and, in comes cases, costing them their lives.
The Elder Justice Act would fund a public awareness campaign around prevention and best practices targeting law enforcement, financial institutions, caregivers and family members.
To be a part in a national effort to raise awareness about the growing problem of abuse, we encourage you 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.
DVD NOW AVAILABLE
To order a DVD of An Age for Justice: Confronting Elder Abuse in America go to the WITNESS Store.
