ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
According to Marin County elder abuse lawyers, elder abuse is a growing problem, and this vulnerable class of people needs help now. The needs of the elderly population match its rapid growth. Persons age 65 and up will continue to require assistance. This assistance must come from attorneys, law enforcement, and other organizations committed to education and assistance to the elderly.
To meet this concern, various organizations have begun implementing resources for potential victims, third parties, and fiduciaries. For instance, in July 2014 the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services published an “Elder Justice Roadmap” which includes a roadmap for strategic investment and engagement by policy makers in the public and private sectors at the local, state, and national levels.
Similarly, the ABA Commission on Law and Aging and the Department of Justice created a booklet on elder abuse for law enforcement. The Commission also partnered with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to publish fiduciary guides to help family members or third parties called to manage someone else’s money or benefits.
Lastly, the Commission partnered with the Investor Protection Trust to create educational materials for attorneys about elder abuse. The Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Program has recently been launched, which provides continuing legal education regarding elder abuse, and teaches lawyers to recognize clients vulnerable to such abuse and how to report it. Marin County elder abuse lawyers agree that awareness of this growing problem is important.
In Washington D.C., the District’s Collaborative Training and Response to Older Victims (DCTROV) was established to create a coordinated community response to elder abuse, utilizing key partners from Adult Protective Services, Law Enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and others. The DCTROV has trained officers on how to recognize and respond to elder abuse, is working with courts on building training on domestic violence in the elderly population, and continues to train prosecutors at multi day training sessions about elder abuse.
Marin County elder abuse lawyers want you to know that victims of elder abuse are not alone. If you believe that you or someone close to you has been a victim or elder abuse, do your research. Please help to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, or may be unaware of their circumstances. The growing elderly population should not be treated like simple gains for predators.
The Evans Law Firm, Inc. handles all types of elder abuse cases, and has offices located in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the Sonoma County. If you or a loved one may have been a victim of elder abuse, financial or otherwise, contact the Evans Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation at 415-441-8669 or info@evanslaw.com.
