How widespread is senior abuse? The National Institute of Justice, reported in May that about 11 percent of people ages 60 and older suffer from some kind of abuse every year. That's more than one in ten. The biggest category that people contacted by NIJ said they suffered in the last year was emotional abuse (5.1 percent), with 1.6 percent suffering physical mistreatment. Financial exploitation by a family member was reported by 5.2 percent of those contacted. Financial exploitation of seniors reportedly costs more than $2½ billion a year.
And the consequences? The chances of dying go up. Other studies say elderly victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation have twice the risk of dying of those who aren't victims.
There are many stories that point out the extent of the problem: cases of home aides giving lethal doses of drugs and of people using positions of trust to permanently "borrow" money from seniors,
All of this would seem to make enhancing the rights of the elderly an obvious choice for legislators - particularly since the number of people over 55 is the most rapidly growing demographic and seniors vote in larger numbers than other age groups.
But there are opponents to the legislation. They talk about skyrocketing federal spending, state's rights and creating more government bureaucracy. Some question provisions designed to check the backgrounds of people hired to be involved with older citizens, since most abusers are known to their victims.
Backers of the Senate's Elder Justice Act and similar House proposals are now linking the cause to healthcare reform. They say this makes sense because elder abuse increases healthcare costs and financial exploitation leaves many victims to rely on public aid. Prevention would therefore be good policy, saving money in the long run.
"This is prevention, which is a healthcare issue," Robert Blancato, who heads the Elder Justice Coalition, an umbrella group for more than 500 groups that support the legislation, told Kaiser. Coalition members include AARP, the American Bar Association and industry groups representing nursing homes and long-term providers.
And why should the federal government get involved? Because studies show state and local licensing agencies. long-term-care ombudsmen and adult protective service workers don't have the resources to handle the problems.
Researchers at Texas A&M University, in a report to the U.S. Justice Department, concluded that "the universal lack of resources, the enormous variation across jurisdictions and the low priority given to elder abuse and neglect make it difficult to see how significant progress can be made without federal standards and financial support."
The current healthcare bills would require states to conduct comprehensive screening of people working with the elderly. This includes those doing home-based care, an group which almost one-quarter of the states don't regulate at all. Additional states only do background checks on medical workers. The bills would also set criteria for hiring - and firing - persons who have committed or commit violent crimes, including an appeals process.
Michael Kosner, President
The Kosner Firm Chtd.
