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ANNOUNCER: This is a HouseDems Report.  Representative Mark Meadows of the 69th District.
 
MEADOWS: Elder abuse takes many forms; it takes the form of physical abuse and mental abuse, and as financial exploitation that we want to now address in the state of Michigan.

ANNOUNCER:  House Democrats unveiled the Elder Financial Protection Act this week, which stems from Governor Jennifer Granholm's Task Force on Elder Abuse.  This plan is aimed at protecting seniors on many fronts.

MEADOWS: The plan will help protect seniors from predators who financially exploit them for their own gain, it will empower people who suspect abuse or witness seniors being victimized to intervene on their behalf. As people get older, they often have to rely on others to help them with their finances, which can leave them open to being victimized, and this plan will also prevent those who abuse seniors from being able to profit off a victim's estate. 

ANNOUNCER: Representative Joan Bauer, of the 68th District.

BAUER: I don't know if people realize it, but now, there's nothing to stop that. It's unconscionable that anyone who abuses an elderly person could actually still profit off that person's estate once the person's died, but it does happen here in Michigan. A person can abuse, neglect, or steal from a senior and still inherit that person's estate, as long as the abuse isn't proven to be directly responsible for the senior's death. So this is another piece of the package that we're taking a look at. This is unacceptable, it leaves our seniors open to abuse.
 
ANNOUNCER: The Elder Financial Protection Act will also make it mandatory for employees of financial institutions to report suspected elder abuse, it will create an Elder Death Review Team to investigate suspicious deaths, and it will allow a third party to file a criminal complaint on behalf of a victim of elder abuse.

Michigan's Adult Protective Services investigated more than 9,300 cases of adult mistreatment in 2001, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA). Adults age 60 and older accounted for 69 percent of the victims – an estimated 6,479 seniors. The investigations found that 70 percent of all victims suffered neglect and 15 percent were abused.

MEADOWS: In many cases, the very people who are charged with caring for our seniors are the ones who prey on their vulnerability. It's a sad reality that seniors can't always trust family members and caregivers to do what's best for them. We need real penalties and real protections for our senior population.
 
ANNOUNCER: To hear or read more about this topic, please visit housedems.com/meadows or housedems.com/bauer.  This has been a HouseDems Report.