LANSING – State Representatives Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing) and Bob Constan (D-Dearborn Heights) today announced that the House has passed their bills that will crack down on the reprehensible act of elder abuse. The bills prohibit those convicted of elder abuse from inheriting from a victim's estate and allow a third party to file a criminal complaint on behalf of a victim of elder abuse.
"For most of us, it's impossible to imagine abusing an elderly relative or friend and then profiting off that person's estate once they have died," said Meadows "But under current law, a person can torture, abuse, neglect or steal from a senior and still inherit from that person's estate as long as the abuse isn't proven to be directly responsible for the senior's death. My bill will put an end to this appalling practice."
Elder abuse ranges from abandonment and neglect to financial exploitation to emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Caregiver neglect comprised 20 percent of substantiated reports, according to a report from the National Center on Elder Abuse. Financial exploitation was the culprit in 15 percent of elder abuse cases.
Michigan's Adult Protective Services investigated more than 9,300 cases of adult mistreatment in 2001, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA). Adults age 60 and older accounted for 69 percent of the victims – an estimated 6,479 seniors. The investigations found that 70 percent of all victims suffered neglect and 15 percent were abused.
"This plan would stop elder abuse by giving someone who witnesses abuse the power to make it known to authorities," said Constan. "Oftentimes our senior residents are vulnerable and confused because they are being victimized by a family member. We must help our seniors when they are trapped in such a difficult situation."