Stricter Federal Penalties for Elder Abusers?

Protect elders, Schumer urges during Staten Island visit
by Staten Island Advance
Thursday February 21, 2008

Staten Island Advance/Frank Johns

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer told his audience at the New Lane Senior center in Rosebank that stricter federal penalties are needed for those suspected of elder abuse.
As baby boomers age and become ever more vulnerable to the scourge of elder abuse, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer called for stricter federal penalties for those who physically harm or financially take advantage of senior citizens on Staten Island and across the country.
"It's a growing problem on Staten Island," Schumer (D-N.Y.) told his audience at the New Lane Senior Center in Rosebank, where he was joined earlier Wednesday by borough Democratic lawmakers. "You don't hear as much about it as you should. It's being swept under the rug."
Quoting city figures, Schumer said there are 100 investigations of elder abuse currently open on the Island, but with an estimated 80 percent of cases going unreported nationwide, according to statistics, he said, "the real number could be a lot higher."

Many cases go unreported, Schumer said, because they often involve a family member preying on a relative, or because the victim may be too ashamed to admit that he or she has been physically abused or swindled by a family member or health aide.
"Senior citizens across Staten Island and New York shouldn't fear being scammed out of their savings or having their health care jeopardized by negligent caretakers," Schumer said.
Schumer said that financial exploitation, including the illegal or improper use of an elder's funds, property or assets "is now one of the most prevalent forms of elder abuse." Referring to city Department for the Aging numbers, Schumer said that financial exploitation is a component in approximately 34 percent of elder abuse cases in New York City.

"That's a despicable act," Schumer said. "We have to have much more severe penalties."
Schumer called on Congress to pass the Elder Justice Act to help combat the problem.
The bill would beef up prosecution efforts by instituting new penalties for failure to report crimes in elder-care facilities, and would increase training for those charged with identifying when abuse occurs.
It also calls for a study on the establishment of a national nurse-aide abuse directory, and also would provide a consistent funding stream and national coordination for adult protective service agencies across the country.
It also would form public-private advisory panels to coordinate federal, state and local anti-abuse efforts.
"This could go a long way toward curbing elder abuse," said Schumer.
The Senate version of the bill is currently before the Finance Committee, of which Schumer is a member. Schumer gave no estimate of what the program would cost.
--- Contributed by Tom Wrobleski

SOURCE: silive.com
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Election time is a good time to tackle politicians on the issue of elder abuse and elder abuse prevention. Hold politicians to their "pre-election promises". And, draw their attentions to the plight of the elderly. It is a human right issue.
Any calls for stricter punishment of elder abusers must be supported. Many cases of elder abuse, particularly those involving family members are treated as "civil matter"; thus, avoiding prosecution. Ridiculous!