Another Form of
Terrorism – Elder Abuse! This is the True Crisis of the Day. Please Print out the Elder Abuse Form and sent it to your Senator * * * * Elder Abuse Form * * * * Click to right to find your Senator's information: http://www.senate.gov
February 17, 2002
Terrorism is
defined as the systematic use of violence as a means to intimidate or coerce
societies or governments. It is also defined as the unlawful use or threatened
use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or
property with the intention of intimidating or coercing. In my opinion, neglect
is also a form of terrorism.
Last year in the
US Senate Select Committee on Aging there were hearings on elder abuse.
Everyone admits there is a problem. A Congressional probe found that 5,283 of
the nation’s 17,000 nursing homes were cited with 9,000 abuse violations over a
two-year period. (2,500 of the violations were serious enough to be considered
life threatening. And 84 percent of crimes against seniors are never reported!
Experts tell us that 35,000 elderly nursing home residents die prematurely every
year from abuse and neglect. One witness before the Senate Committee stated,
“Abuse, neglect, and poor medical care run rampant in nursing homes.” The
spokesperson for the Nursing Home Abuse Action Group testified that, “fully
one-third of the nation’s nursing home residents are known to have suffered
abuse.” 1 out of three of our moms, dads, aunts, uncles, brothers, and
sisters who are residents in nursing homes have been abused! How can you and I
stand for this. I know I can’t. That is why nursing home, hospice, and VA
volunteers or so important. We have to be there for our seniors. We have to
watch out for them, care for them, and fight this War on Elder Abuse on their
behalf.
We have a national
shortage of nurses, so there are not enough in nursing homes. Instead, we have
various forms nursing aide positions that have been created to fill in the
staffing needs, but these positions are typically minimum wage – not enough for
someone with a family to live on - thus, you oftentimes don’t or can’t get and keep good
people in these jobs.
No one
can deny that the War on Elder Abuse is equally as important as the war on
terror. And yet, while we are spending Billions on the War on Terrorism and the
news is replete with all the discussion on the potential attack – we are
spending very little to fight this war on elder abuse. And the terrorism is not
theoretical but real – happening every day within our borders. While 1 in 3
nursing home residents are being terrorized right here within our borders, the
Federal Government is spending only $153.5 million on programs addressing issues
of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, with these funds spread thinly across
the many agencies and programs responsible for protecting Older Americans. It
seems that a Senate investigation has determined that guardianships, which are
designed to insure the physical and financial safety of an incapacitated elder,
may be a vehicle for abuse as well. This week in the Senate there was a call
for a GAO investigation into the abuse of guardianships in the elderly.
Last year there
was a report in a respected medical journal about neglect in a VA hospital. Due
to budget cuts, certain areas of a facility had not been cleaned for months.
This created an infestation of flies, which lead to 2 comatose patients being
exposed to fly larva and maggots growing in their noses. Two of our nation’s
heroes lay in comas and were so neglected that maggots grew in their noses! How
long can you and I allow this to go on?
There are many
caring, loving supportive people in the VA facilities. I know many of them
personally. Because the facilities are under-funded and their staff overworked,
a sure mix for neglect of patients has been created. This is also the
conclusion of many of my volunteers. The Administration’s response to this -
the VA health budget was cut $350 million this year. How can we expect the next
generation of men and women in uniform to serve when they find out that the
Government’s promise to provide health care for life is not being kept. The
words from the lips of those who ask them to put their lives on the line do not
match the actions they take to care for our veterans and armed services health
care needs. We can’t stand by and let this happen to our elderly and to those
who take a solemn oath to defend us. To do so means we are aiding the most
heinous type of terrorism there is. We have an obligation to protect the
homeland – and its women, children and seniors.
Please join me in
fighting this war on elder abuse. First, we need to demand our Government
respond to this issue. Take the time to educate your elected officials about
the importance of protecting our nation’s elders. One way these legislators can
response is by passing legislation such as the “Elder Justice Bill” introduced
by Senators Hatch and Breaux. This bill seeks to addresses the problem of
terrorizing our elders through law enforcement, social services, and public
health avenues. It establishes Offices of Elder Justice both at the Department
of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice. While the bill may
not be perfect, it is certainly a good beginning.
We are a nation of
free people. We only remain free by participating in our democracy. I urge you
to join my fight against elder abuse. You have a right to be heard in
Washington. We all have a responsibility to help those who are no longer able
to have their voice heard in Washington. For information on the Twilight Brigade go to TwilightBrigade How YOU Can Become a Trained Volunteer
Please e-mail to CIANatl@aol.com
Or Fax to :
310-473-1951 For more information on The Twilight Brigade – Compassion in Action, please visit our website TwilightBrigade or dannion.com Please Print out the Elder Abuse Form and sent it to your Senator * * * * Elder Abuse Form * * * * Click to right to find your Senator's information: http://www.senate.gov
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