Act Now for the Elder Justice Act

I cared for my mother for 13 years who expressed her gratitude in the repeated phrase of “what do old women do who don’t have a daughter.” In pursuing my career as a social worker servicing vulnerable older adults I discovered the answer to this question.

Take for instance, Elaine, a wealthy New York'er who had many friends from years of working and years of acting in community theaters, as well as from the role of the wife of a university professor. In early cognitive decline, she did not recognize the devious designs of her sister’s daughter, who had supposedly come to help while Elaine’s husband was in rehab. The niece first isolated her from all her friends, near and far, and next accompanied Elaine on a cruise while the niece’s boyfriend absconded with the contents of Elaine’s home. Also over a hundred thousand dollars was removed from Elaine and her husband’s accounts before the husband was alerted. Meanwhile, Elaine was transported to Texas and deposited into a nursing home.

Or take David, on the other hand, who struggled hard all his life to make a living. But by his 70’s, he owned his small frame home, had a pre-need funeral–plan, and a nice little retirement savings. With his savings to supplement his social security, he should have been able to live a good long time, providing he lived frugally. By the time APS stepped in and actually rescued him, David’s nephew with friends, had emptied his savings, cashed in his burial plan, burned down his garage to collect the insurance, all the while cashing his monthly social security checks.

These two were lucky compared to the disabled grandmother whose grand-daughter allowed her to lay in her filth without benefit of medication or medical attention for so long that she had worn through her thin mattress top and the wire’s of the springs below were imbedded into her flesh.

One study suggests that in the United States 4% of all adults older than 65 are subjected to some form of elder abuse. Another estimates that there are 6 million victims of Elder abuse in America today and that only one out of 24 cases are reported to authorities. An estimated $2.9 billion a year is believed to be lost by financially exploited older adults.

No one, no race, no ethnicity, no level of economic security, no social status, no number of children and grand-children provides exemption from the possibility of being abused, neglected, or exploited often by someone thought to be worthy of trust.

The first federal law targeting the prevention of elder abuse is the Elder Justice Act passed though insertion into Obama’s Health Care Initiative in 2010. The strategies of this act can be bundled into three components. First is the creation of entities to research the most effective methods to reduce elder abuse including the gathering of more accurate statistics. Second has to do with the provision of both grants and incentives to improve state regulatory services including ombudsman programs and the now inadequately funded adult protective services. The third is to ensure that facilities providing elder care institute effective self-reporting procedures and require criminal background checks for care providers. But in order for this Elder Justice Act to have any effect it needs to be funded now and the act must be renewed by September.

What does an old woman do who does not have a loving daughter? She counts on you to call and write your federal representatives and let them know you want protection for elder adults with funding of the Elder Justice Act. Please act now to protect the vulnerable older adults of America. written by Beverly Jo Flach LMSW TxCG

THE BACK NINE

VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK. READ SLOWLY!

AND THEN IT IS WINTER

You know ... time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.

But, here it is... the "back nine" of my life and it catches me by surprise...How did I get here so fast? Where did
the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that "I was only on the first hole" and the "back nine" was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting gray...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change...Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though I'm on the "back nine", and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth...it's over. A new adventure will begin! Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.

So, if you're not on the "back nine" yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can
never be sure whether you're on the "back nine" or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!

"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY ! HAVE A GREAT DAY Remember "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. LIVE HAPPY IN 2014!

LASTLY, CONSIDER THIS: ~Your kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are perfect! ~Going out is good.. Coming home is better! ~You forget names.... But it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!! ~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything.... especially golf. ~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore. ~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep". ~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.. ~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"..." ??? ~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere. ~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!! ~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~Everybody whispers. ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear. ~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!

Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them
laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.