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Elder Rights
United States
Background Documents
Older American
Act (1965)
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Older
Americans Act into law on July 14, 1965. This Act aims
at providing help for older persons by claiming
indisputable elder rights such as adequate incomes in
retirement and the best possible physical and mental
health. The Act established the Administration of Aging,
a federal advocacy agency to represent and protect older
US citizens. This agency is empowered to oversee
services and providing opportunities for older people
across the Nation. The Act also authorizes grants to
States for community planning and services programs
aimed at older persons. Title XVIII covering Medicare
and Title XIX covering Medicaid were also signed into
law in 1965.
Amendment to Older
American Act (2000)
The Amendment to Older American Act in 2000 added
grants to Area Agencies on Aging. It also established an
important new program, the National Family Caregiver
Support Program. This Support Program aimed at
addressing the nation’s needs of caregivers. It was
intended to help hundreds of thousands of family members
who care for their older loved ones. Also, the 2000
Amendment maintains the original ten objectives of the
Older American Act about the protection of the older US
citizens’ rights and dignity.
Reauthorization to
Older American Act Choice for Independence (2006)
The 2006 Reauthorization of the Older American Act
includes a project called “Choices for Independence”
which promotes consumer-directed and community-based
long term care options.
Violence Against Women Act
of 1994
President Bill Clinton signed into law The
Violence against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA). It is
enacted as Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and
Law Enforcement Act of 1994. It enhances the
investigation and prosecution of violent crimes
perpetrated against women. Also the Act changes
federal criminal laws by including a civil rights
remedy for victims of “gender motivated violence,” a
provision declared unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court
Violence Against Women Act
of 2000
On October 28, 2000, President Bill Clinton
signed into law the Violence against Women Act of 2000
as division B of the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Protection Act of 2000. The VAWA 2000
continues the essential work begun in 1994 and creates
new grant programs, in order to create transitional
housing for victims of domestic abuse or enhance
protection for elderly and disabled victims of
domestic abuse among others.
CRS Report: Violence
against Women Act: History, Federal Funding and
Reauthorizing Legislation (October 2001)
Read this report to have complete knowledge about
the Violence against Women Act.
Care-Giving and
Nursing Homes
Reports | Articles
Reports
Guardianships:
Cases
of
Financial
Exploitation,
Neglect, and Abuse of Seniors (September 30, 2010)
To protect older persons who are incapable of managing
their personal and financial affairs, state laws provide
for court appointment of guardians. State and local
courts are responsible for overseeing them. However, the
Government of the Accountability Office (GAO) identified
hundreds of claims of physical abuse, neglect and
financial exploitation by guardians in 45 states and the
District of Columbia between 1990 and 2010. GAO found
that courts failed to screen guardians adequately and
did not communicate effectively or at all with each
other about abusive guardians.
Articles
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