By James Maroney
State Sen., D-14
James Maroney.
Any form of abuse is devastating for the victim, their family and the community in which the abuse took place. As a state senator, I’ve made a concerted effort to deal with this important issue and protect our state’s seniors. Thanks to the enactment of legislation I’ve championed which establishes an elder abuse registry and bans those convicted of abuse from working in healthcare facilities, I believe we’ve implemented a proactive approach to keep our seniors safe.
According to the National Council on Aging, elders who have been victims of abuse have a 300 percent higher risk of death compared to elders who have not been abused. Elder abuse includes, but is not limited to, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Passive neglect, confinement and financial exploitation are also common forms of elder abuse. We can – and through this legislation we will – ensure our state’s seniors are safe.
One method is the aforementioned Elder Abuse Registry. Here is how it will work: a public, easy-to-find database will be compiled from six other registries of offenders who have been convicted of assault or other forms of abuse. This public and user-friendly online tool will be maintained by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and the Department of Health will publish it on their website. The Commission on Women, Children and Seniors will also provide a portal on their website, leading users to the database. You can view the registry repository by visiting wp.cga.ct.gov/cwcseo/registry-repository/.
This is crucial information the public may not have been aware of in the past, now easily searchable in one place. By arming the public with knowledge, it ensures people across our district and state can have the peace of mind that their loved ones are safe. Twenty-six states across the country are using these registries. Although this issue is incredibly troubling, I am proud we will be joining these states in making real progress to deal with this issue head-on.
Still, this is a growing issue. Did you know in the last seven years in Connecticut, the number of elder abuse investigations has doubled? This is another sobering reminder that there is much to be done. We therefore passed legislation which bans anyone convicted of an assault or abuse crime from gaining employment at a nursing home or long-term care facility.
In addition to the work of the legislature, AARP’s Fraud Alert program also protects seniors from financial abuse. Financial exploitation is a common form of elder abuse. AARP’s program provides bi-weekly watchdog reports on scams and allows you to report and search scams throughout the country. This is a serious issue, and thanks to these important proactive measures, we have made our state’s seniors much safer.
If you or anyone you know is a victim of elder abuse, please do not hesitate to speak out.