The Time Is Now to Advocate for Older Adults
Any day is better than the last for advocating for the elderly as data from Adult Protective Services (APS) shows more than 5,000,000 elders are abused each year, including 1 in 10 elders over the age of 60. The abuse and neglect can come in many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual and financial, and not always obvious.
Like every other year, during the month of May, the Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. For this year the theme is, Connect, Create, Contribute and aimed to encourage older adults and their communities, including advocates, to:
- Connect with friends, family, and services that support participation.
- Create by engaging in activities that promote learning, health, and personal enrichment.
- Contribute time, talent, and life experience to benefit others.
Older adults, no matter where they live, have the right to stay engaged and support the communities they choose to participate in. These activities only make this generation stronger and the services and networks they rely on to perform better.
Who Are Today’s Older Americans?
In 2018, the Administration for Community Living agency released the Profile of Older Americans report and shared these findings on the growing population.
- 50 million Americans are over 65 and nearly one in ten lives in poverty.
- Today’s seniors will live longer in old age than any generation in history.
- By 2060, 98 million Americans will be at least 65.
- About 82,000 Americans were age 100 and older in 2016, and, according to some estimates, that number could increase ten-fold by mid-century.
- In 2016, about 1.2 million of those 65 and older lived in nursing homes.
If you are involved in sustaining the engaged livelihood and health of an older American, keep in mind that their care and well-being often includes a combination of family support, aid from professional caregivers, long-term care providers, health insurance companies, public policy-makers, and more. There are many different pieces to the puzzle, and those working to prevent such serious problems such as abuse and neglect appreciate that much work needs to be done yet as the aging population continues to grow.
Experienced Attorneys Who Speak Against Those Who Harm Older Americans
At Levin & Perconti, we have long been advocates for taking steps to limit the chance for vulnerable individuals to be hurt or taken advantage of, especially older Americans. Our firm is home to the most widely known and respected nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys and legal support in Illinois, achieving multiple million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients and their families.
Our experiences have also helped us empathize for victims and help everyone involved move forward once trust has been broken. In Illinois, there is a time limit to file a case like this, so please contact us now for a free consultation with one of our skilled nursing home attorneys.
Also Read: Nursing Homes Put Profits Over Patients