Elder Law

Congress Consider Issues Affecting Illinois Nursing Home Abuse

By Levin & Perconti

This week the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing to discuss issues related to elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. The committee is considering ways in which the federal government can become involved in ending these unacceptable problems facing far too many vulnerable seniors. A variety of individuals provided testimony at the hearing to shed light on the issues.

Actor and senior advocate Mickey Rooney opened the hearing with discussions about the elder financial abuse that he suffered at the hands of a close relative. He urged Congress to take a variety of measure to help prevent abuses like the one he suffered, as well as other forms of elder abuse. Mr. Rooney also encouraged seniors to come forward and share their stories, as silence is one of the main reasons why bad conduct continues without punishment. His advice remains apt to all those suffering from Illinois nursing home abuse.

A variety of other advocates and expert in the area also testified to the committee in an attempt to shed more specific light on the problems facing many seniors, including nursing home residents. For example, Dr. Mark Lachs explained his own research which indicates that for every case of abuse that is actually identified, there are 24 cases that are never brought to light.

Overall, the witnesses recommended that leadership on the issue of elder abuse needed to come at the federal level. The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Herb Kohl, mentioned that he planned on introducing legislation to address the issue in the near future.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on March 05, 2011 (boomark / email).