Elder Abuse Task Force sends General Assembly eight recommendations

NASHVILLE, TN (WJHL) Tennessee legislators will soon consider eight recommendations aimed at preventing elder abuse and responding to it when it occurs.

The state’s Elder Abuse Task Force signed off on its final report today. Lawmakers created the task force after a 2013 Community Watchdog investigation into the state’s abuse problem.

The recommendations include changing state law, pushing for more education and prevention, requiring background checks for unlicensed home health employees, creating a statewide website to warn of scams and asking the District Attorney General’s Conference to research and suggest possible changes to Tennessee Code Annotated that can help with the prosecution of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.

“We have a responsibility to try to deal with elder abuse and to try to prevent it,” Elder Abuse Task Force Chairman Jim Shulman said. “Hopefully, with these recommendations and this report, we are taking a major step forward with our efforts.”

The task force will turn in its report to legislators and the governor Friday. Lawmakers will then decide which recommendations, if any, to implement.

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Elder Abuse Task Force sends General Assembly eight recommendations