Another small step in effort to make a big change

When Lynn Fiedler first met with The Daily Item weeks after news of horrendous acts of elder abuse emerged out of a local senior care center, she displayed a firmness and determination of someone about to initiate change.

As part of a new elder abuse task force that includes lawmakers, law enforcement personnel, lawyers and other advocates, Fiedler is pushing ahead.

Feidler has often been front and center, a voice for the voiceless as the legal maneuverings in the wake of extensive elder abuse charges emerging out of the Heritage Springs Memory Care Center in Union County continued. Fiedler’s mother was one of the victims of the gross actions of two individuals — a then-18-year-old woman and a then-17-year-old juvenile male — over a five-month window in late 2022 and into early 2023.

During that first meeting, Fiedler understood change was needed. It might not help her family, but she wanted to make sure individuals who perpetrated these disgusting acts were appropriately handled by the justice system and upgrades made to that system to expand punitive measures.

She knew then, and still understands a year later, the work is just beginning. It’s why she often wears a T-shirt with a “Journey to Justice” message on it.

“We realize this is going to be a long journey,” Feidler said after a task force meeting last week. “This is one of the first steps to the journey. We’re all very invested in this. Our goal is to create better legislation to protect this population. First, second, third or however many steps it takes, we’re in for the long haul.”

Fiedler’s determination is something state Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver acknowledged is a driving force behind the task force. Learning the stories of the 17 residents and their families has forced action, she said.

“It’s one thing to read it, but it’s another to talk to folks who have family members that were impacted,” said Culver. “This impacts entire families, people who went to visit, people who support, this impacts an entire family. You never, ever think no matter how much research you do, no matter how many times you visit, that this can actually happen in that small amount of time you’re not there. We’re coming to learn that we’re not protecting our senior citizens. We’re leaving them out there very vulnerable. The law is not the same as if you were a child.”

A law is moving through the state Senate that will be named Alice’s Law, after Fiedler’s mother, Culver said.

It’s another step. But another step in a long process built on a determination to see real, significant and impactful change.

NOTE: Opinions expressed in The Daily Item’s editorials are the consensus of the publisher, top newsroom executives and community members of the editorial board.

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Another small step in effort to make a big change