DC Elder Abuse Attorneys Weigh In:
In 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services jointly announced a framework for tackling issues of abuse and neglect faced by elderly individuals in the United States. Known as The Elder Justice Roadmap, the framework is the result of a comprehensive survey of stakeholders in the field of elder justice, including high-level public officials and thought leaders.
The Roadmap notes that rates of abuse and neglect are particularly high in nursing homes and other long-term care settings, where more than two million people in the United States live. It also estimates that for every one case of elder abuse that comes to light, another 23 remain hidden.
The comprehensive framework announced by the two federal agencies underscores the pervasiveness of the abuse and neglect that many elderly people face, explains nursing home attorney Jeffrey Downey. For individuals living in nursing homes, the risk of abuse and neglect is particularly acute, explains Downey, because those individuals are often the most vulnerable.
Click here to access and download The Elder Justice Roadmap