Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Connecticut Lags in Funding to Fight Elder Abuse

A recent report by the Government Accountability Office shows Connecticut's budget for handling reports of abuse of the elderly and the state's rate of substantiating such abuse rank low among the states.

State officials say that may be because the Department of Social Services focuses on meeting victims' needs rather than investigating and punishing abuse.

"We try not to place blame. What we try to do is resolve the situation and remove the person from the abuse," said Pamela Giannini, director of the DSS aging services bureau. "Our top priority is to ensure safety and facilitate well-being."

She said other states have "more of a police mentality" about reported elder abuse, while Connecticut refers only serious cases of caregiver abuse or neglect, including physical injury, to law enforcement authorities.

Full Article and Source:
State Lags in Funding to Fight Elder Abuse

4 comments:

StandUp said...

The state doesn't have a good reputation for caring for old folks. Remember Daniel Gross?!

Barbara said...

I don't remember Daniel Gross.

Thelma said...

Daniel Gross came up from NY to visit his daughter, and he got sick. He got sucked into the meat grinder and his daughter had to bring a habeas corpus petition to free him from the court, which had acted without jurisdiction.
Unfortunately, he died not long afterward.

Connie said...

State officials should be putting the blame on probate courts who look out for the interests of guardians and lawyers instead of wards.