Elder Law

Senate Finance Committee Approves Two bills to Help Prevent Elderly Abuse

By Levin & Perconti

The Senate Finance Committee approved two bills that seek to prevent neglect and abuse of elderly patients. One bill would authorize $777 million to establish state and local training and assistance programs for long-term care employees. The legislation would establish a database used to identify and track elder abuse cases. Bill co-sponsor Rahm Emanuel said, ?Ever year, millions of American seniors are victims of abuse and neglect. This bill will bring focus to the problem of elder abuse and elder abuse and elevate it to the same level as other family violence issues.? The second bill would seek to establish a nationwide system of background checks to screen potential long-term care employees for a history of abuse or a violent criminal record. The law should provide as much as $160 million in grants over three years to states that seek to participate in the program. To read the full story, click here.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on September 21, 2008 (boomark / email).