NCJ Number
145397
Journal
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (1991) Pages: 57-64
Date Published
1991
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A United States Congressman makes a plea for increased funding of elder abuse prevention programs. He discusses past congressional action and recent knowledge about elder abuse gained through a survey conducted by a subcommittee of Congress.
Abstract
In this article, a United States Representative provides an overview of the actions taken by Congress to help in the fight against elder abuse. In 1990, the year the article was written, almost $3 million had been appropriated for elder abuse programs. Considering the fact that estimates place the number of abused elderly persons nationwide at 1.5 million, this amount is just a starting point. Congressman Roybal summarizes the findings of the Subcommittee on Health and Long Term Care's survey of adult protective services offices in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. This report provide a nationwide picture of elder abuse as of May 1990. It contains some horrifying anecdotes, some of which are repeated in this article. The author asserts that Congress must find a way to fund elder abuse prevention programs before the problem reaches crisis proportions.