Elder Abuse Awareness Month         

Dear Editor:

As Elder Abuse Awareness Month in Illinois gets under way, I want to urge everyone to remember that elder abuse doesn't just happen one month out of the year -- it's a tragedy that occurs year-round. Elder abuse is a scar on our vision of a compassionate society. But we must not turn from the sight. Illinois laws protect and support victims and get tough with those who act criminally.

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has signed several laws and implemented initiatives to help prevent elder abuse. Such laws have expanded the number of mandated elder abuse reporters to include paramedics and emergency medical technicians, provided stricter penalties for those who fail to report suspected abuse, increased criminal charges and penalties for battering a person age 60 or better, and created a special statewide unit within the Illinois State Police dedicated to fight financial exploitation and other abuses against the elderly.

In April, the governor created a new 24-hour line where seniors and their loved ones can report elder abuse and quickly get help from a trained caseworker. Previously, elder abuse complaints were taken by the Illinois Department on Aging's Senior HelpLine, which is staffed 8 1/2 hours a day, five days a week. Under the governor's direction, IDoA representatives now staff the Elder Abuse Hotline 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

New laws and programs implemented over the past few years have helped tremendously with preventing and raising awareness of elder abuse in Illinois, but we must take this effort one step further. If you suspect elder abuse, please reach out on behalf of the elder who is being mistreated and make a report to IDoA's 24-hour Elder Abuse Hotline at 1 [phone] or 1 [phone] TTY.

Our elders have given to us, now it is our turn to look out for them. BREAK THE SILENCE -- report it now, before it is too late!

Sincerely,
Charles D. Johnson
Director, Illinois Department on Aging

(Posted July 15, 2006)