Lansing -- Part of a package of bills to prevent financial exploitation of senior citizens passed in the state House Wednesday afternoon.
Called the Elder Abuse Protection Plan, the package is meant to address a surge in abuse complaints, which have increased 40 percent in Michigan since 1998, according to the Michigan Department of Human Services.
Under the bills, financially exploiting a vulnerable adult would be a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Children who abuse, neglect or exploit their aging parents would be disinherited. And third parties would be able to file criminal complaints to stop and prevent abuse cases in nursing homes and elsewhere.
The bills have to pass the state Senate and be signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to become law.
"Now, the victim has to voluntarily go in and file the complaint themselves," said state Rep. Andy Neumann, D-Alpena, chairman of the House Committee on Senior Health, Security and Retirement.
"(Under the bills) a friend, or somebody from the financial community, like a banker, could file a complaint and have it investigated," he said.
Based partly on the findings of Granholm's Elder Abuse Task Force, the package has been lauded by advocates worried about the rise in elder abuse. Michigan's Adult Protective Services received more than 16,300 reports of adult mistreatment in 2008.
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House OK's Bills Targeting Elder Abuse, Financial Exploitation
6 comments:
I am sure the Elder Abuse Protection Plan means to be helpful to seniors. The problem is it appears to make it easier on the pros to take control of lives and estates.
Guardians malign family - and then benefit from that action.
"Children who abuse, neglect or exploit their aging parents would be disinherited."
All right then if there's an only child, where will the estate go of that only child is "disinherited"? To the state?
On the right track in Michigan, applause.
But those who take advantage of and exploit wear many costumes.
Including, individuals acting in positions of trust abusing the courts stealing under color of law, need those in authority with eyes wide open with regular audits court watchers giving the one being robbed, the victim, a voice which will be heard.
The vulnerable and elderly are prime target material for predators, it's as if they are wearing T-shirts with a $ sign in the middle of a bulls eye.
It's good that MI is looking at elder abuse, but they need to look specifically at the abuser in sheep's clothing - guardians.
Did you see where anyone can go in and file a complaint? Bankers, for instance?
This isn't good. Bankers need to have their noses in their books. Rather than file complaints and get investigations started, they can voice their concern directly with the senior -- or the senior's family.
Banks profit from guardianship - they don't need any more tools to do that with.
Could this bill empower bad guardians?
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