Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker launched a task force to study Illinois’ efforts to prevent elder abuse and punish its perpetrators, with a deadline of January 2021 to submit its report. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that violence against the elderly has increased dramatically. The 22 Illinois Elder Abuse Task Force members are charged with analyzing the effectiveness of elder protective services in Illinois and other states and develop a long-term plan to improve outcomes for older Illinois residents.
Illinois’ Adult Protective Services agency reports the following statistics:
In creating the task force, Pritzer said:
“In Illinois, every single person – no matter their age, gender, citizenship, sex, ability, race or religion – deserves to feel safe and secure. One case of elder abuse would be too many, but 20,000 annually is unacceptable: we need to tackle this head on. This bipartisan Elder Abuse Task Force will investigate our current elder protective practices and strategies for increasing public awareness and come up with the best possible plan to combat patterns of abuse and treat our older Illinoisans with the respect they deserve.”
Do you have concerns about the care and rights of an elderly family member in Illinois? Our experienced elder law attorneys in Lombard Illinois understand applicable laws and advise you on the best options to protect an elderly or disabled person. Contact the Estate & Probate Legal Group at (630) 382-8073.
