The Oregon Senate backed a bill this [3/1/12] that will make major changes to Oregon law with respect to elder abuse, creating critical new protections for Oregon’s most vulnerable seniors. House Bill 4084 integrates several recommendations from a work group on elder abuse created in 2011 including increasing the statute of limitation for crimes against the elderly, modifying records disclosure laws to make sure law enforcement can investigate allegations of abuse, and creating a council to review reporting of abuse to determine root causes of abuse and how abuse can be prevented.“In a time when criminals are creating new opportunities to prey on vulnerable victims, this legislation will arm law enforcement, financial institutions, medical providers, and the agencies charged with protecting Oregon’s elderly with the tools to prevent abuse,” said Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene), a member of the task force that developed HB 4084.
According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, state and local offices investigate more than 11,000 complaints of elder abuse or neglect each year. Oregon’s Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act defines an elderly person as any person 65 years of age or older.
“Our seniors deserve to be treated with dignity and we have an obligation to look out for those who are least able to care for themselves,” said Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-NW Portland/Washington Co.), a practicing physician. “Many vulnerable seniors depend on assistance from others to take care of their basic needs. While the vast majority of these caretakers do admirable and compassionate work, there must be a system of accountability for those bad actors that take advantage of the most vulnerable.”
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Bills Protecting Vulnerable Seniors From Abuse Approved by Senate
What about protecting them from the people (fiduciaries) who are supposed to be protecting them and instead bill them to death?
ReplyDeleteThis appears to be positive legislation and at the same time, like Thelma said, it leaves the door wide open for guardianship abuse.
ReplyDeleteThe governor signed some bills, but strangely enough, the important Elder Abuse Prevention law bill has not been signed as of this date.
ReplyDeleteIt is reported, that the Bill was signed by the Governor on March 27, 2012.
ReplyDeleteRemains to be seen, how many cases will be available to be investigated.eb
It is just another legislation, which at first glance promises reforn of certain areas of abuse, but serves more the trustees, wards and conservators, than the victims.
ReplyDeleteThe six year statute of extension to file reports of abuse, are for "felony" cases only. It is not legislation to go after the perpetrators of elder abuse.
Just another law to get on the books, alomg with its sponsors, but it remains yet to me seen, how it affects elder abuse not in the category of a "felony"??
ReplyDeleteWhat about "elder abuse and exploitation" Oregon law terms it a CIVIL matter. Even if fraud is involved, it is still a Civil matter.
What a scam.
All of it depends on mandatory law enforcement, which does not ecist....eb
What kind of an evasive term is that in the bill. Law emforce,emt "CAN" investigate......That has been the problem, they do not Want to investigate. It is simpler to ignore it and call is a civil matter, as they have done36 for 10 years of abuse and financial fraud
ReplyDeletein Clackamas County, Oregon...to a now 86 year old resident. eb
lIn
ReplyDeleteWhile absolutely nothing has stirred in Oregon to look into the financial and physical abuses past and present. There is a lack of interest to enforce old and new laws..
ReplyDeleteIt is called a corrupt system while the judicial fraternity upholds its
authority. eb