U.S. congresswoman
from Florida pushing for elder protection
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.
(By The News Service
of Florida)
Proposed
Congressional legislation would create a national registry of people and
businesses
that are found
guilty of committing fraud, abuse or neglect against elderly people.
Known as the Senior
Citizens Protection Act,
the measure would
build a database for seniors and their caregivers to use,
prior to hiring
someone for help with finances or personal care.
No such list
currently exists.
North Florida
Congresswoman Gwen Graham will sponsor the bill.
Speaking at a senior
center in Tallahassee Monday,
Graham says since
Florida has such a large number of elderly residents,
it can be easy and
lucrative for crooks to prey on them.
“People, as they get
older, they may become more isolated,"
said the Democrat
out of Tallahassee.
"Therefore,
those that might reach out to them for not the right reasons find an ear and
someone that wants to have that connection and human contact.”
Graham says she will
file her legislation in the next week or so, when Congress returns from its
current break.
She is not running
for reelection this fall,
but is hopeful the
legislation will pass before her term expires in early January.
We must also add,
teaching our elderly to use of our newest technology like, computers, I-pads,
cell phones and so on, to help speed up any help that they might be needing?
I am sure that
companies would be glad
to send representatives. For free, to teach.