HHS Awards More Than $9.7 Million to Prevent Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Administration for Community Living (ACL), announced on November 9 more than $9.7 million in new awards to help older adults stay safe, make their own choices, and stay connected to their communities. The funding will test new ways to prevent abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation; expand legal help; strengthen advocacy for people living in nursing homes and other care facilities; and help women with the greatest economic and social need build financial know-how.
The department cited the scale of the problem: financial exploitation alone is estimated to cost older Americans $28.3 billion annually, at least 1 in 10 older adults experience some form of abuse each year, and long-term care ombudsman programs handle hundreds of thousands of consultations and cases annually over residents' rights, safety, and quality of care.
"Older Americans have earned the right to live with dignity, control their own lives, and protect what they worked hard to build," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., adding that the investment puts practical tools and trusted support into communities to help older Americans safeguard their independence and financial security. Mary Lazare, ACL Principal Deputy Administrator and delegated chair of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council, said the grants put practical help within reach, whether that is a lawyer who can help with a scam or a guardianship case, an ombudsman who listens to a nursing home resident, or clear information that helps a woman protect her retirement.
The awards have four parts. First, ACL's Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services is awarding six new Elder Justice Innovation Grants totaling $5,609,058 over three years to develop and test approaches to new and emerging elder justice problems. Recipients are Texas Healthy at Home (Texas Elder Justice Coalition), the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the University of Missouri, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, and Yale University.
Second, the same office is awarding four new Legal Assistance Enhancement Program grants totaling $1,899,218 over two years to expand or improve legal services for older adults with economic or social needs. Recipients are Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Inc., the Skokomish Indian Tribe, the Southern Nevada Senior Law Program, and Utah Legal Services Inc., covering priority legal issues including abuse, neglect, exploitation, fraud, and guardianship.
Third and fourth are two national resource centers. ACL's Administration on Aging awarded a three-year grant of $1,549,221 to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care to operate the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, providing training and technical assistance to 53 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs. It also awarded a three-year grant of $717,000 to the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement to operate the National Resource Center for Women and Retirement, providing practical information on managing money, planning for retirement, and preventing identity theft, fraud, and financial exploitation for women with the greatest economic and social need.
ACL does this work as part of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC), which coordinates federal work on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, from prevention and early help to protective services and accountability.
(Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国卫生与公众服务部总部 Humphrey 大楼（GSM 固定图库）。 / Photo: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services headquarters, the Humphrey Building (GSM asset library).
