Support the Elder Justice Act

As the 119th Congress revs up, elder justice advocates have key carryovers from the last session on our "to do" list, including the reauthorization of the Elder Justice Act. As we resume the fight, it’s worth acknowledging the significance of the EJA, which was enacted by Congress in 2010 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Beyond providing the first ever federal funding (however measly) for adult protective services (APS) and long-term care ombudsman programs, the EJA reframed elder abuse prevention as a right and created an infrastructure for delivering services to protect those rights. Beginning in the early 1980s, when states started passing elder abuse reporting laws patterned after those created to protect kids, elders were viewed as vulnerable and in need of protection. The EJA reframed elders as “rights holders” entitled to live free of abuse and neglect in their homes and long-term care facilities. Today, with programs that protect these hard-earned rights in jeopardy, it's critical that we make our representatives aware of these threats. For more on what you can do, see the Elder Justice Coalition's website at https://lnkd.in/gYTb7R4H.