PATRICIA L. CIRIPOMPA
LANCASTER
OCTOBER 22, 2009
The elder abuse trial of New York society matron Brooke Astor's son might not have been noticed as life-changing news, but the lessons from this sad and sordid story should serve as a wake-up call for all of us. From this elderly lady's fate, we learned:
1) Being rich will not protect you from elder abuse;
2) Being famous will not protect you from elder abuse;
3) Having famous friends will not protect you from elder abuse;
4) If someone such as Brooke Astor could be a victim of elder abuse, what chance will the rest of us have?
In America, the country that loves youth, beauty and strength, we do not have any comprehensive federal legislation focused on elder abuse. Abused women, children and animals have celebrity spokespeople, meaningful funding and national 800 numbers. Abused elders do not. Of the total pie of federal dollars dedicated to all forms of family violence in the United States, only a tiny sliver -- 2 percent -- is for abused elders.
I hope by the time I'm in my "golden years" someone in leadership has been stirred to act on this issue. The Elder Justice Act, now part of the health reform legislation, has languished in Congress for seven years. Hopefully, our legislators will begin to see it as a priority for the protection of our most vulnerable citizens.
As one of the 77 million baby boomers barreling toward old age, I would like to find comfort in believing that I will not end up isolated and sleeping on a urine-soaked couch like Astor.
SOURCE: The Lancaster Eagle
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