Frank Sietzen: Nonprofits rally around senior protection bill

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - A bill protecting elderly Americans from violence in nursing homes was passed by a Senate committee at the last minute, thanks in part to a coalition of nonprofit groups.

There are 5 million cases of elder abuse reported each year, and the federal government spends $153 million a year on elder justice issues, according Senate Finance Committee figures. The problem likely will get worse as the number of elderly grow. By 2030, the U.S. Census estimates the number of Americans 65 and older will have jumped to 60 million from 35 million today.

The Elder Justice Act, if passed by the House and signed into law, would create a public-private council to coordinate activities of all relevant federal agencies, states, communities and nonprofit groups, and better coordinate all national programs for senior protection. To fund the effort, it would add $40 million in new spending next year and in each of the following four years.

The act also would add $25 million over the next four years for grants to train workers to recognize and prevent senior abuse and mandates the establishment of a national database to collect reports of mistreatment. It also toughens penalties for failure to promptly report crimes in facilities and provides more money to prosecute cases of mistreatment.

Although the number of older Americans is increasing, the problem of elder abuse, and exploitation has often gone unnoticed.

“It is one of the most serious issues facing millions of American families,” said Bob Blancato, national coordinator of the Elder justice Coalition which is helping push the bill.

Nonprofits involved in senior care — including patient advocacy groups, clinics, nursing homes and assisted living facilities — have clamored for years that the elderly were being subjected to violence and abuse.

“Nonprofits make up nearly all of our [coalition] members — national groups and state groups — so it is clear that they have been the determined advocates in the legislative effort,” Blanco told The Examiner.

Blancato was optimistic the law would be passed this year despite the short Congressional schedule,

“It will be passed because of the strong majority of support that it received,” he said, pointing to the 20 to zero margin by which the bill sailed through the finance committee.

While the group would prefer that the bill be voted on as a stand alone measure, his coalition would be satisfied even if it has to be attached to some other measure.

Have information about area nonprofits? Contact Frank Sietzen at fsietzen@yahoo.com.