Elder Justice Plan
Posted on April 1, 2012 by bob in ElderJust
In its October 2011 session, the Alabama Silver-Haired Legislature made Elder Abuse its top effort. Members are working to get the ball rolling in their individual districts, and for the fifth year in a row a bill was introduced in the Alabama Legislature to establish an Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. It sailed through the Senate and is now in the House.
Last year the governor created the Elder Justice Alliance, which is attempting to do what most of this legislation calls for. The proposed plan of action includes:
– a statewide long-range plan for caring for those at risk;
– elimination of existing barriers to identifying and reporting elder abuse;
– developing programs/services for elder abuse victims;
– developing fiscal plans to fund this effort
The major areas of elder abuse include:
– physical abuse, inflicting pain and injury on a senior;
– sexual abuse;
– financial exploitation;
– emotional abuse, inflicting mental pain/anguish on an elder;
– abandonment, seniors are often turned loose to fend for themselves;
– self-neglect, leaving seniors to care for their health and safety when evident shows them incapable of doing so.
Alabama is in a position to gather data, form committees and study the problem in anticipation of the Legislature putting the force of law behind their efforts.
Montgomery District 77 Rep. William L. Richards has been addressing the problems of the elderly with local civic groups.
Speaking to the Retired Federal Employees Association’s Montgomery Chapter, Richards recalled the heart-wrenching tale of child actor Mickey Rooney who went to court in an effort to protect himself from his own son. Rooney claimed his son was verbally, physically, and financially abusing him.
“The child actor grew into adulthood, as have many of us,” said Richards, “believing that everyone close to him had his best interests at heart. This was not the case. Before the court intervened [Mr. Rooney] was effectively a prisoner in his own home.”
Similar cases exist in Alabama, with one concern being nursing home residents, who are particularly vulnerable with limited recourse as it relates to protection from abuse.
Others helping to spread the word about elder abuse and efforts to combat it are Robyn James of the Elder Rights Division of the Alabama Department of Senior Services, and Steve Searcy, Executive Director of the Alabama Justice Center. Both recently spoke to members of the Alabama Assisted Living Association at the group’s annual conference in Birmingham. They presented information on the Elder Justice Alliance initiatives, financial exploitation of elders, and the importance of “looking both ways before a senior connects to the Internet”.
NOTE: Robyn James is available for speaking engagements on this topic and can be reached at 334-353-9273, or by e-mail at Robyn.James@adss.alabama.gov.
