President Barack Obama recently released a Presidential Proclamation, designating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in an effort to address domestic violence at all stages of life.
The proclamation specifically mentions elder abuse as a “public health problem that affects millions of older Americans.”
Earlier this year, the President hosted the White House Conference on Aging to focus on the issues facing Americans as they plan for retirement, care for loved ones and work to improve quality of life as they age. During the WHCOA, the Obama Administration announced key steps it is taking to modernize federal rules that affect long-term care and elder justice.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a rule to update the quality and safety requirements for more than 15,000 skilled nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities to improve quality of life and enhance person-centered care, services and safety for residents of nursing homes.
By the end of 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice will release a final Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) victim assistance rule that will clarify that assistance funds may be used to support legal services for crime victims. The rule will also emphasize the need to use VOCA funds to support social and legal services to underserved victims, including elder victims of abuse, financial exploitation, fraud and neglect.
Domestic violence impacts women, men and children of every age, background and belief. According to the proclamation, nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the United States are victims of severe physical abuse by an intimate partner.
Contact Langdon & Emison for Nursing Home Abuse Legal Help
Langdon & Emison represents victims of elder abuse and their families in cases involving nursing home abuse and neglect. To contact our attorneys, call 866-931-2115. You can also visit our Nursing Home Abuse Guide at www.nhabuse.com.