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State must Become a Leader in Care
for the Elderly
The Saratogian
February 16, 2005
If the measure of a community is how well it cares for its most vulnerable members, America is failing. But New York has the opportunity to become a leader.
The report of the first-ever New York State Summit on Elder Abuse shines a light on a dark side of human nature, and it offers some practical first steps for defining, publicizing and preventing elder abuse.
According to statistics from the National Center on Elder Abuse, one in 14 people older than the age of 60 is likely to be abused, and nine out of 10 times family members are responsible for the abuse. At least half a million Americans are subjected to physical, psychological and financial mistreatment every year.
So much for the Golden Years
One of the first steps to grappling with any problem is recognizing it, so the 100 participants from this spring's summit are giving voice to our parents' and grandparents' pain. To help ensure that New York leads the way in issues of the heart and soul as well as high-tech research, the newly formed New York State Coalition on Elder Abuse calls for some necessary basics:
- Statewide research to define the nature and scope of abuse
- The creation of a statewide definition of elder abuse
- The creation of a statewide resource center; training to help first-responders and others in the community recognize elder abuse
- The implementation of a statewide information campaign to educate the public
Abuse of a weaker person is unforgivable, but it's especially heinous when the victim is a senior citizen -- someone who's raised a family, held a job, done their duty voting and paid their dues in the community.
Sen. Martin Golden put an eloquent shine on a basic truth when he introduced a state resolution proclaiming Elder Awareness Week: 'The physical abuse, mental anguish and financial exploitation too many elderly people are enduring diminishes us as a civilized society.'
Solving the problem will take more than lip service, but the summit's action plan is a great first step.
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