In response to growing concerns over elder abuse in the United States, in 2010, president Obama signed into law the elder Justice Act (EJA) as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Act. The EJA is a complete elder abuse prevention law to address any form of abuse suffer by the elderly population. The Act requires residential care facilities along with the general public to be familiar with warning signs of elder abuse, and notify staff of the EJA reporting requirements (Watson, 2015). Under these requirements, individual must report any suspected form of abuse committed against the elderly. In fact, nearly all 50 states have enacted mandatory reporting laws and have instituted …show more content…
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defined elder abuse as a person age 65 or older that have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depend for protection (upon whom they rely for care and basic needs). As with other forms of human abuse, older adult maltreatment includes emotional, sexual, and physical neglect, as well as physical and sexual violence: financial abuse and violation of right are particular issues for elders (Watson, 2015). Among all, neglect, is the most common form of elder mistreatment. Neglect is the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties to an elderly, such as providing medication or food. The majority of elderly abuse cases go unreported and unaddressed. According to the Elder abuse statics report, for every cases of elder abuse reported to authorities, about five go underreported due to the victims fear of retaliation by the abuser (Watson, …show more content…
The American Society on Aging estimated that abuse in the elderly leads to a 300 percent increase in premature death, excess morbidity, and untold suffering for victims. Elder abuse victims are admitted to nursing homes at four times and to hospitals at three times the rate of non-victims (admission to the nurses’ homes is four times, and to hospital three times than the rate of non-victims) (Mosqueda, et al, 2016).
The EJA act focus on the topic of elderly abuse and the necessity to develop prevention programs to promote safety to this vulnerable population. The Government Accountability Office and authorities, underlined absence of research, education training and prevention tactics to protect elderly from abuse (Dong, 2014). Health care professional in all areas of practice, the general public must understand that elder abuse is as a major health problem throughout the world. To promote public interest in the elder abuse prevention, we must reframe elder abuse from being thought of as simply an individual issue (Mosqueda, et al, 2016).
My position supports the Elder Justice Act, with the improvement of the EJA, proper provision can be applied to encourage the prevention of elder abuse. Increasing educational program and policies to protect the elderly and maintain their safety.
Provided below is the information to support my