Elder abuse is a growing problem but passage of a protection act has been long in coming.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expects the time has come for his Elder Abuse and Prevention Act to pass this year into law, according to the Financial Advisor in "Elder Abuse Act Has Good Chance of Becoming Law This Year."
If passed, the act would do several important things.
First, it would increase the penalties for email and telemarketing scams aimed at the elderly.
Second, it would increase funding for elder abuse prevention training and mandate that every federal judicial district of the Justice Department must have at least one attorney whose focus is on fraud committed against seniors.
Finally, the Act would also increase data collection about elder abuse to give lawmakers a better understanding of the scope of the issue.
Another bill being supported by Sen. Susan Collins, the Chair of the Senate Aging Committee, would give immunity to financial institutions from lawsuits, when they report suspected elder abuse.
Reference: Financial Advisor (Feb. 9, 2017) "Elder Abuse Act Has Good Chance of Becoming Law This Year."
