The governor of Illinois is planning on signing into law several bills that are designed to protect senior citizens from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Such legislation is meant to increase oversight of caregivers, and obviously would address problems such as nursing home abuse or neglect.

There is much emphasis in this legislation in preventing other individuals from financially exploiting elderly people. Too often, caregivers steal money and assets from elderly, and this legislation would freeze accounts of these caregivers if such exploitation is suspected.

Even more importantly, legislation would be in place for making it easier to report abuse or neglect of elderly individuals receiving care. In part, this would allow for reporting of such abuse on the internet, and it would require that law enforcement officers receive training on recognizing when such abuse or neglect is occurring.

Other legislation to be put into law concerns commonsense protection of the elderly such as having identification bracelets on at all times. It also allows for family members to gain access to medical records for their elderly relatives.

Obviously, such legislation is deemed necessary due to a problem with elderly abuse and neglect already being much too common. Though such legislation is welcome, elderly individuals will still benefit from the independent representation of legal counsel. Such lawyers can also assist elderly people and their family members understand what their legal options are concerning this new legislation.

We've written many times about nursing home abuse and neglect, and about patients that wander away from nursing homes or are suffering from lack of care. Such elderly people have earned their right to be treated with dignity.

Source: Aledo Times Record, "Elder abuse tackled in Illinois," August 3, 2012