Democracy Rules

According to the WHO, elder abuse is "a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person." This harm is usually committed by a person known to the victim, such as a spouse, partner, family member, friend, neighbor or those on which the older person relies on for services. In addition to neglect or abandonment, the abuse of elders can be physical, emotional or financial.

In 2018, it was estimated that 10% of the 52 million people in the U.S. over the age of 65 suffer from elder abuse each year. One study showed that two-thirds of these abuse victims were white females whose median age was 78. About 60% of all elderly abuse cases involved neglect, while physical abuse accounted for about 16% of these cases, followed by financial abuse (12%). In roughly two-thirds of these cases, the perpetrator of the abuse was an adult child or a spouse of the victim. More than 40% of all murder victims older than 60 are murdered by their own child or killed by a spouse (24%). Elder abuse often occurs in nursing homes and long term care facilities. As of 2017, 1.2 million seniors required nursing home care, and by 2030 this number is expected to grow to 1.9 million.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.4969 - To reauthorize funding for programs to prevent, investigate, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and for other purposes. (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Richard Neal (MA)

I oppose reforming current elder abuse policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
I support investing nearly $4 billion in an elder justice infrastructure, adult protective services, improved staffing in nursing homes, medical-legal partnerships, and addressing social isolation and loneliness by providing: 1.) $1.6 billion for post-acute and long-term care worker recruitment and retention. 2.) $1.4 billion for Adult Protective Services to receive and investigate reports of elder abuse and to intervene to protect these victims. 3.) $172.5 million for long-term care ombudsman program grants and training to ensure that residents of long-term care facilities are receiving the services to which they are entitled, including quality care. 4.) $500 million for supporting linkages to legal services and medical-legal partnerships. 5.) $250 million to address social isolation and loneliness. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Richard Neal (MA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Winning Option »» No issues were voted

I support investing nearly $4 billion in an elder justice infrastructure, adult protective services, improved staffing in nursing homes, medical-legal partnerships, and addressing social isolation and loneliness by providing: 1.) $1.6 billion for post-acute and long-term care worker recruitment and retention. 2.) $1.4 billion for Adult Protective Services to receive and investigate reports of elder abuse and to intervene to protect these victims. 3.) $172.5 million for long-term care ombudsman program grants and training to ensure that residents of long-term care facilities are receiving the services to which they are entitled, including quality care. 4.) $500 million for supporting linkages to legal services and medical-legal partnerships. 5.) $250 million to address social isolation and loneliness. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Richard Neal (MA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.