Elder Abuse: Prevention, Vulnerability, Awareness and Education

Victims of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation are three times more
likely to die at an earlier age.

COMMON FORMS
OF ABUSE

Many people mistakenly assume that only battered paople are abused.

TAKE ACTION

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Dr. Margaret Mead

Gary A. Jones

When Gary Jones became sick with terminal cancer, his caregiver denied him visitation with his children.

→ More

Gary Jones Association current elder abuse laws.

Note: The laws provided are current as of April 2006. Statutory citations do not change often, but there is always the possibility that a law will be revised and renumbered or even repealed. The Gary Jones Association staff will update this information periodically. If you are aware of changes or errors, please feel free to notify the association by e-mail at info @garyjonesassociation.org, and we will update or correct the information as quickly as possible.

Elder abuse laws at the federal level
Federal laws on child abuse and domestic violence fund services and shelters for victims, but there is no comparable federal law on elder abuse.

Older Americans Act (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq., as amended)
Source: National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)

The federal Older Americans Act (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq., as amended) authorizes the use of federal funds for certain elder abuse awareness, training and coordination activities in states and local communities but does not fund adult protective services or shelters for abused older persons.

Older Americans Act: Title VII Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection
For nearly forty years, the Older Americans Act has expressed the nation's commitment to protecting vulnerable older Americans at risk.

When the Act was reauthorized in 1992, Congress created and funded a new Title VII, Chapter 3 for prevention of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

In the most recent amendments of 2000, Congress called on states to foster greater coordination with law enforcement and the courts. As the years have passed, Title VII Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection has proven instrumental in promoting public education and interagency coordination to address elder abuse.