News Article

Consumer Voice Strongly Supports the Elder Justice Initiative Budget Request. Sign the Petition Now!

April 25, 2014

 Add YOUR Voice to the Call for Elder Justice

Help Make Elder Justice a Priority- Sign and Share this Petition Today!

We are seeking YOUR help in making elder justice a priority in our country. It is estimated that 1 in 10 elders experience some form of abuse or neglect and for each case of elder abuse that is reported, 24 are not.
 

The President’s FY 2015 budget includes an Elder Justice Initiative of $25 million. The funding would be used to create an Adult Protective Services (APS) National Data System, develop APS program standards, and support evidence-based research regarding elder abuse.
 

The Elder Justice Coalition created a petition on whitehouse.gov to encourage the Obama Administration to make the Elder Justice Initiative budget request a priority when speaking with Congress. The petition needs 100,000 signatures by May 7, 2014 in order to receive an official response from the President.
 

Take action NOW and voice your support of the Elder Justice Initiative and the need to protect victims of elder abuse.
 

Why is this important?

• These provisions were part of the Elder Justice Act that passed with the Affordable Care Act, but were never funded.

• Federal funding has never been appropriated to establish a national infrastructure for Adult Protective Services- there is currently no national database or national standards.

• Elder abuse occurs in the community and long-term care facilities and victims of abuse have a 300% higher risk of death compared to individuals that have not been abused.

• It is estimated that victims of financial exploitation lose $2.9 billion a year. Direct medical costs due to elder abuse are estimated to exceed $5 billion annually.

Take Action Now! Sign and Share

1. SIGN the Petition: Click here to sign the petition today! 

2. SHARE the Petition: Please take a moment to share this petition with your professional and personal networks by:

   1. Forwarding this alert.

   2. Posting on Facebook (sample post below):
      It is estimated that 1 in 10 elders suffer from abuse or neglect. Protecting elders from abuse needs to be a priority for our country. Sign the petition to fund the Elder Justice Act and encourage the President to prioritize the $25 million Elder Justice Initiative in his budget. We need 100,000 signatures by May 7th, so take action now and sign and share! Sign here: http://wh.gov/lvXWd.

   3. Tweeting (sample tweet below):
      Help stop elder abuse. Sign, share this petition making the $25 million Elder Justice Initiative a national priority http://wh.gov/lvXWd

Learn more about the Elder Justice Coalition and this petition by visiting their website.
 

To stay informed about additional action needed to support this Elder Justice Initiative budget request, as well as other long-term care issues, join the 
Consumer Voice Action Network.

Thank you for your advocacy!