Elder Abuse Legislation Moves Forward 

By Tom Smith, Times Daily

January 19, 2010 

Rep. Tammy Irons said efforts are under way that could help improve elder abuse reporting as well as make stiffer laws for those who take advantage of Alabama's senior population.

Irons, D-Florence, has introduced legislation that would establish the Interagency Council For the Prevention of Elder Abuse, which also is known as the Elder Abuse Prevention Act.

"The goal is to make people aware of the problem of elder abuse," said Irons, chairwoman of the Elder Justice Committee.

The five-member committee was established in June to study issues that face the state's aging population.

Irons said that in 2008 there were 6,000 reported cases of elder abuse in the state. She said there are thousand of cases that go unreported.

"That's the goal of this legislation - to bring awareness to the problem and to try and correct it," she said.

She said 17 state agencies have been identified as sharing responsibility in the prevention of elder abuse, healing elder abuse victims and prosecuting offenders.

These agencies, along with five other groups that include the state bar, sheriff's association, probate judges association, the coalition against domestic violence and Alabama 911 Network, would make up the interagency council.

She said the legislation was filed last week and "we hope it will go before the Judiciary Committee next week."

Irons said she hopes the legislation is voted on in the House within two to three weeks and passed on to the Senate.

Jerry Groce, director of the Franklin County Department of Human Resources, said since the senior population is the fastest growing demographic in the state and nation, the issue of elder abuse is of vital importance.

"For every report we receive, there are four to five that we don't receive," Groce said. "We're just scratching the surface of the problem. This legislation would focus more attention on the program and promote new resources to help battle this problem."

Irons said she also would like to see the interagency committee look into establishing stronger laws for people who abuse the elderly.

"We want to train people how to detect elder abuse," she said.

"At the same time, I want to see the committee address the possibility of stronger laws on the books for these abusers. Laws that are specific for elder abuse."

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