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Elder Abuse

A Guide to Selected Government and Legal Information

Web version of this guide includes links to web resources.

Federal Government Information
Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation: Are We Doing Enough?

An assessment of governmental efforts to curb elder abuse and an exploration of further solutions to the problem. The panel of witnesses includes representatives from the Postal Inspection Service, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the Social Security Administration, among others. 2003
Y 4.J 89/2:S.HRG.108-445

Shattering the Silence: Confronting the Perils of Family Elder Abuse

This hearing includes data from the Adult Protective Services Administration and testimony from seniors who were abused by a family member. 2003
Y 4.AG 4:S.HRG.108-288

Elder Justice and Protection: Stopping the Financial Abuse

This hearing on financial exploitation of the elderly offers specific examples of abuse and examines what the Federal government can do to stop the victimization of this vulnerable population. 2003
Y 4.L 11/4:S.HRG.108-382

Elder Justice and Protection: Stopping the Abuse

Held in Missouri on consecutive days, these two hearings before the Senate Subcommittee on Aging focus on elder abuse that occurs in nursing homes. 2003
Y 4.L 11/4:S.HRG.108-210
Y 4.L 11/4:S.HRG.108-226

Medline Plus website on Elder Abuse

This website of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health offers comprehensive and timely elder abuse information, including the National Center on Elder Abuse, which is funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging and is a gateway to resources on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Illinois Government Information
Reporting Elder Abuse: What Professionals Need to Know

In an easy-to-read, question and answer format, this booklet defines elder abuse and clarifies how suspected elder abuse should be reported and which professionals are mandated by law to report. 2003

Elder Abuse and Neglect Act and Related Laws

Similar to the above publication in style and format, this booklet provides the Illinois Compiled Statutes relevant to elder abuse. 2003

Elder Abuse Prevention and Legal Services

This Illinois Department of Aging website offers helpful links and information: The Elder Abuse and Neglect Program responds to reports of alleged abuse in Illinois. There are 45 provider agencies -- McDonough County is in Area 3. The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program protects the rights of individuals living in long term care facilities.

Advocating for Older Citizens

As part of her website, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan offers this consumers alert page which explains why seniors are at greater risk for fraud and contains links to information on telemarketing fraud, home repair fraud, sweepstakes, financial exploitation, junkmail, and unwanted phone calls.

Legal Information
The Public Choice of Elder Abuse Law

This paper presents findings of a University of Iowa study to evaluate the impact of state adult protective service legislation and regulation on the rates of investigated and substantiated domestic elder abuse.
Journal of Legal Studies. Vol. 33, No. 2 pp. 517-549 June 2004

"Big Brother" and Grandma: An Argument for Video Surveillance in Nursing Homes

The author of this article contends that use of "granny cams" in nursing homes should not be made compulsory; however, all nursing homes should be required to provide the technology.
Elder Law Journal. Vol. 12, No. 1 pp. 119-147 2004

Governmental Responses to Elder Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes: The Criminal Justice System and the Civil False Claims Act

This article examines the legal tools available to the government to help end elder abuse, specifically advocating use of criminal statutes and the False Claims Act.
Elder Law Journal. Vol. 12, No. 2 pp.327-354 2004

Elder Abuse and Neglect

Chapter 12 of the IICLE handbook, Advising Elderly Clients and Their Families, offers Illinois law on elder abuse.
KFI 1291 .A3 A38 2000

The Not-So-Golden Years: Power of Attorney, Elder Abuse, and Why Our Laws Are Failing a Vulnerable Population

This article details case studies in which power of attorney is used to abuse the elderly, financially and otherwise. 2008
82 St. John's L. Rev. 289, via Nexis Uni

Exploitation and Abuse of the Elderly During the Great Recession: A Maine Practitioner's Perspective

More elder abuse case studies and ideas for remedies from a practicing attorney's perspective. 2010
62 Me. L. Rev. 429, via Nexis Uni

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