Illness and age should not dictate basic human rights. All individuals deserve to enjoy the benefits of basic human rights bestowed upon the healthier and younger members of our global population.

All adults, regardless of age or mental capacity, have the right to:

• Live in dignity and safety, free from mistreatment of any kind
• Have their physical AND emotional needs met
• Make their own decisions
• Have visitors at their discretion
• Maintain autonomy (as much as possible within any health constraints)

An abusive person will try to cut a vulnerable adult off from all resources, especially friends and family. Isolating a vulnerable adult is part of the abuse pattern. For this reason, third-party visitation rights for terminally ill or elderly parents and their adult children are essential.

Third-party visitation rights maintain that those closest to the elder or ill person will be in close contact to help identify and prevent any caregiver abuse. Current third-party visitation laws do not include visitation rights for terminally ill or elderly parents and their adult children.

All current visitation statutes in the United States are written to enable adults to obtain visitation with minor children. Visitation laws need to be strengthened nationwide to protect the integrity of a vulnerable adult's right to schedule appointments, as well as that person's right to request and receive visitors at will. This basic right ensures a vulnerable adult is able to maintain a higher level of autonomy and enables those closest to the vulnerable adult to monitor and report abusive situations.