Bipartisan group of senators hopes to curb elder abuse
By Kelly Fay
Lawmakers are taking action to protect the state's growing elderly population, which they say is vulnerable to widespread, and often overlooked, abuse. A bipartisan group of senators released a report early last week detailing the impact of elder abuse and advocated for eight pieces of legislation they say would close loopholes and toughen penalties for those who take advantage of the elderly.
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Legislative solutions to the problem of financial abuse include a bill (S.6221) sponsored by Valesky, the chair of the Aging Committee, that would permit banks to refuse the transaction of funds if the institution, social services officials or law enforcement have reason to believe a vulnerable adult is being financially taken advantage of.
Valesky, D-Oneida, also sponsors legislation that would allow a prosecutor to access medical records with a subpoena in order to prove a patient has a mental disability and has been the victim of a financial crime. The bill (S.7179/A.08778) seeks to protect people with Alzheimer's and other diseases that impair judgment, the population of which is growing as medical advancements allow people to live longer. According to the report, some medical providers and institutions refuse to make records available, which prevents vital information from being brought up in court proceedings.
Additionally, the senator sponsors legislation (S.2951/A.08778) that would expand how a caregiver is defined to include anyone who takes on responsibility for the wellbeing of an elderly person, allowing for harsher legal repercussions for those who endanger or abuse them.
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-05-12-87890.113122-Bipartisan-group-of-senators-hopes-to-curb-elder-abuse.html