▶ 0:17:49>> the U.S. senate special committee on aging will now come to order. A heartbreaking issue. People spend years planning, working, and dreaming of enriching, fulfilling retirement. Never does that dream include possible abuse or neglect of a friend, loved one, or themselves. Unfortunately, elder abuse and neglect happen every day and too often, our seniors suffer in silence.
▶ 0:18:18Recent study from aarp shows that only one in 14 cases -- one and 14 of elder abuse are reported. Even when it is reported, it can be difficult to prosecute those crimes. They are often unable to testify. -- not having a trusted support system and the perpetrator of the abuse having an existing relationship with the abused victim. Combat abuse and neglect by stopping fraud and scams.
▶ 0:18:50It's especially important to folks in my state of florida. We have such a large and vibrant senior population. I fought to make law after I was elected to the senate in 2018, criminal enforcement determines.
▶ 0:19:17The trace act -- more time to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those who are caught, promotes call authentication, and blocking adopting technologies from reaching these consumers in the first place and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address hurdles to criminal prosecution, have robo callers who intentionally flout laws. The trace act protects americans, especially seniors, from abusive robocalls.
▶ 0:19:50While having the trace act signed into law by president trump and 2019 was a win in the fight against fraud, abuse, neglect, victimization continues and we must do more. We need an all hands on deck approach to protect seniors.
▶ 0:20:07Continued support for programs that help train those who interact with seniors on how to identify signs of physical, mental, and finance abuse of elders, provide services for those who are victims of such horrific treatment and we also need to build out and support programs that stop elder abuse and neglect before it happens especially on a state and local level. This includes transportation services and meal delivery programs. These programs serve a dual purpose is to help build the necessary trust to create a safe environment for abuse when and if it occurs.
▶ 0:20:38Many of these essential programs work on identifying, preventing elder abuse and neglect or overseeing and authorized by the older americans act. For 60 years, the older americans act has helped countless seniors through social connection, life-affirming support programs.
▶ 0:20:5710 million older americans are held by programs covered by the oaa and I am proud to work with the ranking member, gillibrand, and health education labor and pensions chairman and ranking member bernie sanders to meet the fight for the reauthorization of this important piece of legislation which is the critical tool in our arsenal to fight against abuse and neglect of our elderly population.
▶ 0:21:18The oaa supports caregiving services and provides vital legal assistance programs to connect vulnerable seniors with the resources that they need. Also helps support local and home meal delivery services which not only provide much-needed nutritional services but also serves as a critical touch point for seniors.
▶ 0:21:38Interactions like those had with an in-home meal delivery services provider are sometimes the only contact a senior may have with someone who can recognize signs of abuse or neglect. Also builds trust and a sense of connection that may otherwise not exist. Thankfully, we are working with the trump administration to understand the value of these programs. Health and human services -- robert f. Kennedy, jr.
▶ 0:22:01Made an effort to highlight how important these in-home meal services are by being the first sitting hhs secretary to visit and deliver meals themselves. I'm grateful we have a leader in the white house and the department of health and human services prioritizing that health and safety of older americans and our partners in this fight to ensure members about aging community have a healthy and fulfilling life. My hope is that with this hearing, we can provide attention to the people and programs working on the front lines to address this crisis of elder abuse.
▶ 0:22:31I look forward to hearing from these leaders in the agency support space and gaining knowledge from the experience as we work together to address and stop this crisis in its tracks. I would like to recognize ranking member angela branched for her opening statement. >> I appreciate hearing from these experts. Elder abuse and neglect is a serious problem that impact far too many adults in our communities and in long-term care settings.
▶ 0:23:01What is worse is that only one and 24 cases of elder abuse are ever reported to the authorities, suggesting this is much more widespread than ever realized. It is a complicated and intimate issue but what is clear is we need to make sure the system to prevent and combat it are strengthened and protected.
▶ 0:23:20Many of these systems are currently housed at or supported by the administration for community living such as the long term care ombudsman program, advocacy agencies, and adult protective services. As the administration of the organization for community living in congress considers reauthorizing the older americans act, it's crucial these important programs remain available to seniors who depend on them.
▶ 0:23:49Today, we will hear about how these programs work together with law enforcement to prevent and combat elder abuse. We will also hear about how congress can empower law enforcement to prevent financial abuse as france and scams people to include new technologies including block chain, cryptocurrency, and ai. In 2024, older americans represent the largest demographic group affected by cryptocurrency fraud, losing more than $2.8 billion.
▶ 0:24:19To address this, I'm introducing a bipartisan bill called regarding unprotected aging retirees from deception or the guard act which chairman scott cosponsored with me. I am proud to champion this important legislation which will encrypt law enforcement with tools and flexibility aids to combat financial fraud and abuse in the modern age.
▶ 0:24:38I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about ways we can reinforce our existing defenses against elder abuse and pioneer new and innovative up -- innovative approaches to end this disgraceful practice. Thank you, chairman. >> thank you. Ranking member gillibrand, I would like to welcome our witnesses here today, each of whom brings important expertise at the state, local, and federal level.
▶ 0:25:02I would like to say on behalf of this whole committee, but ranking member, we are very appreciative when you come up and give your testimony so we are excited that you're here. I would like to introduce the president and ceo of the southwest florida agency area agency on aging like the one she leads to perform critical work at the local level and our lifeline for many seniors. She lives about 30 miles north of me.
▶ 0:25:32With over a decade of service to the community, she oversees critical programs that seniors rely on. Thank you for your work to support and protect our seniors. Please begin your testimony. >> chairman scott and distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today on one of the most pressing yet underreported crisis facing our older adults can elder abuse and neglect. This issue is far more common than many realize.
▶ 0:26:01Approximately one in 10 americans over the age of 60 experiences some form of abuse, physical, emotional, financial, or neglect. What is even more concerning is that for every case reported, 24 more go undetected but what that means is nearly 5 million older adults may be experiencing abuse each year and must suffer in silence, a number that will only grow as our population ages. The consequences are devastating.
▶ 0:26:29Victims of elder abuse are three times more likely to die prematurely. Financial equitation alone caused -- costs seniors over $3 billion a year, leaving them without means to purchase food, hygienic supplies, medication, or other basic necessities. This is where your area agencies on aging play a critical role. Today, 614 aaa's serve older adults in virtually every community manager wide.
▶ 0:26:5885% of americans 65 and older want to age at home, not in institutions. We have the front lines of elder abuse prevention, providing services like information and referral, care coordination, caregiver support and case management. Our greatest strength is that the trust we have built with the people we serve. We are embedded in every community, urban and rural.
▶ 0:27:19With 10,000 americans turning 65 each day and 70% eventually needing long-term care, we bring partners together to respond quickly when abuse is suspected. In southwest florida, your aaa demonstrates a critical role we play through the funded services which don't just provide statistics. They save lives. Let me share what this looks like. Just last year, one of our specialists visited a 93-year-old, eleanor, and counter covered in bruises.
▶ 0:27:50Her husband had been striking her with a cane and was holding her parkinson's medication. Because she was already connected to our agency through funded case management, we were able to act immediately. We reported the abuse to the adult protective services, also known as aps. She was safely removed from the home and she received the care and support she needed. Eleanor spent her final months surrounded by compassion and dignity and ultimately passed peacefully with her family by her side.
▶ 0:28:20We offer financial exploitation prevention through our nutrition program and senior centers. We have helped older adults like virginia avoid exploitation and supported grace, who was choosing between food and paying her utilities on her social security. When 89-year-old emme lost her life savings to a scammer, our legal service provider funded through oaa act helped to prosecute the perpetrator.
▶ 0:28:45At the same time, our oaa funded meals program insured she stayed connected and nourished, preventing further vulnerabilities. We have early intervention networks. Our specialists and partner agencies respond to high-priority cases within 24 hours. Without funded programs creating trusted relationships through meals, transportation, and social activities, these cases of abuse would go undetected until it is too late.
▶ 0:29:14Successful elder abuse prevention requires multidisciplinary teams bringing together social workers, first responders, health care providers, and legal professionals to address the complex nature of elder abuse. In southwest florida, we have partnered directly with adult protective services to collaboratively review complex cases every month and determine how we best serve older adults together. Ongoing federal and state funded long-term care services is needed to support older adults.
▶ 0:29:44While your aaa's are well conditioned to combat elder abuse, we need adequate resources to expand our life-saving work. To strengthen these efforts nationwide, I respectfully recommend passing the reauthorization this fall. Congress must finish reauthorizing the oaa this fall to provide the stability and framework our aging network needs to serve americans growing older adult population.
▶ 0:30:11Increase federal funding under oaa for elder abuse prevention and response. Promote cross sector collaboration especially aaa's adult protective federal services. Elder abuse is not just -- it is -- it requires a coordinated response.
▶ 0:30:32Home-based oaa services cost -- yet without adequate funding, we are pushing vulnerable seniors toward medicaid funding nursing homes that cost six to eight times more. A recent study of over 64,000 clients proves this point. Home health care saved an average of over 6433 per patient annually while reducing hospital readmissions by 18% and deaths by 20%.
▶ 0:30:59Projections suggest other abuse cases will rise dramatically as our population ages, potentially reaching 320 million victims by 2050. Every day we delay action, more elder adults suffered in silence. Aaa's are ready to lead this fight but we cannot do it alone. We need your partnership, your commitment to ensuring that every older adult to an age with dignity and safety. Most importantly, we need congress to complete the oaa reauthorization this fall.
▶ 0:31:27In closing, like virginia, who trusted us enough to share concerns about her son's financial pressure and abuse, or the out-of-state daughter who called frantically about her 90-year-old abuse mother, programs create the trusted relationships that prevent tragedy and dignity. The older adults in our communities built the america we know today and they deserve to live their remaining years free from the.
▶ 0:31:53Area agencies on aging are uniquely positioned to make this vision a reality but only with your continued support. To conclude, I want to conclude by thanking the ranking member for your leadership as cosponsors of the reintroduced older americans act reauthorization bill. Your commitment to this legislation demonstrates the urgency of supporting our nation. Thank you. >> good job. Thanks for what you do.
▶ 0:32:23Please welcome the executive director of the national district attorneys association. He brings a wealth of policy experience at the federal level and partnered with congress and other federal agencies and law enforcement stakeholders to advance policies to protect our seniors. He is here to discuss incredible work the association is doing. Thanks for being here and taking time to discuss such an important topic. Please begin your testimony.
▶ 0:32:51>> members of the committee, I really appreciate the opportunity to speak today on this critical issue of elder abuse and neglect. In its 75th year, it is a national nonpartisan membership association with over 6000 members nationwide, providing training, resources, and other information for prosecutors around the country. Elder abuse comes in many forms. Physical harm, emotional manipulation, financial expectation, abandonment, and systemic neglect.
▶ 0:33:19The abuse lacks typical or stereotypical offender. The truth is that they too often our trusted individuals and even family members. The reality with older adult members are targeted because of their vulnerability. Prosecutors are tasked with applying the law to each individual case and this requires discretion to balance the severity of the cross, the victim's vulnerability, and the appropriate consequences for the perpetrator.
▶ 0:33:47Current threats of exploitation among older victims -- the digital world. To appropriately address -- we must identify the threats they face and not simply dismiss them as situations in which they should have known better. One of the most prevalent means to exploit older adults is through financial scams. It is estimated by the fbi's internet crime complaint center that in 2024, over 4.8 billion dollars was lost in elder financial scams, a 43% increase over 2023.
▶ 0:34:18Typically, offenders established a baseline level of trust with a vulnerable target. Once the individuals -- the offender blackmails the victim with threats. Unfortunately, there are too many examples of bad actors taking advantage of older americans. Earlier this month, chinese nationals in the U.S. were indicted on charges to commit wire fraud. They committed a pop-up scam targeting older adult victims by falsely claiming their bank accounts were compromised.
▶ 0:34:46They posed as federal law enforcement to collect large sums of cash from the victims. It is alleged that more than 50 victims across 19 states were defrauded of over $10 million. While financial expectation is a threat in the digital world, guardianship and caregiver issues are a threat and the physical world. Guardians are within the circle of trust of the older adult.
▶ 0:35:08When abuse occurs, older adults hesitate to pursue legal action or disclose the relationship and victims often remain unaware of the exportation. Unfortunately, there limited data and information on the number of guardianship cases involving abuse. Older adults also face a complex and confusing legal system which ultimately reduces reporting. These victims are often unaware of the free or low-cost options like legal aid programs, pro bono firms, or resources to the older americans act.
▶ 0:35:38What is working to address these challenges? Collaboration among local, federal, and state law enforcement is essential to prevent, investigate, prosecute elder abuse. The san diego elder justice task force brings together the local da's office, fbi, aps, doj, the U.S. attorney's office, local law enforcement, and their local fusion center to combat elder abuse and neglect.
▶ 0:36:05At first glance, they may seem like local investigation. -- investigations. Some evolve into federal investigations. Multidisciplinary team models such as the task force -- trauma informed interview techniques and vic dative centered -- victim centered.
▶ 0:36:29The project provides prosecutors with essential resources, technical assistance and training to support their work in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting elder abuse cases. Last fall, they held a decision making -- listening session on capacity decision-making. And the tools, training, and support needed to navigate these cases. I am pleased to share that report was released earlier this week and we provided a copy to the committee and we launched numerous other resources tailored to the needs of prosecutors to combat these challenging cases.
▶ 0:37:00Finally, I would be remiss not to mention the intersection of elder abuse and neglect with artificial intelligence. Typically, a high voice commands mimic distress calls. For these calls, you can use the acronym stop. Stop, disconnect the call, don't act right away, think, ask questions. Why would law enforcement tell me to do this? Others. Reach out to a trusted individual and discuss the situation. And plan, prepare for how to respond in future situations.
▶ 0:37:29Alternatively, ai is transforming how we detect, prevent, and investigate elder financial scams. Many banks use machine learning models to monitor transactions in real-time and flag unusual activity. If bad actors are using the power of ai, we should be as well. Elder abuse and neglect cases represent a collective failure to protect a vulnerable population. Prosecutors see the physical therapy emotional, and financial pain these victims face firsthand.
▶ 0:37:54I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this complex topic and we stand ready to support this committee in its efforts to protect our most vulnerable. >> thank you. I would like to introduce the aarp oklahoma state director. Since 2010, he has fought tirelessly to support seniors in oklahoma and he is here today to talk about what he has seen in his state and how we can expand programs and policies with proven success to combat this horrible crisis. Thanks for your work and things are being here.
▶ 0:38:24Looking forward to your testimony. >> thank you, members of the committee. It is an honor to be here to testify today. I represent nearly 360,000 members to help advocate for more than 100 million americans nationwide. Combating elder abuse and neglect is what we do at aarp.
▶ 0:38:50Our founding traces back to the person who discovered a retired teacher and living in a chicken coop alone, impoverished, and seemingly forgotten. Dignity, safety, and the well-being of older americans. We would like to think this situation is a thing of the past but it is not. Elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation are happening every day. These are not statistics. These are real people.
▶ 0:39:21Names, faces, and life stories, all deserving of dignity and respect. The overtired a successful career in oklahoma but as he aged, he developed dementia. His family relates to us that he was taken advantage of by someone he thought he could trust. He was isolated from some of his family and friends. His savings were drained. His support system eroded and eventually, he died alone. His story is deeply troubling.
▶ 0:39:51But that is exactly what we confront every day if we are serious about protecting older adults. In oklahoma, we have seen the number of abuse allegations increase yearly. Abuse isn't always a bruise as you can see. Sometimes, it's financial exploitation or intentional social isolation. The national institute of justice survey found that 11% of individuals over the age of 60 experienced at least one type of abuse.
▶ 0:40:20Elder abuse is severely underreported. Victims may be dependent on their abusers, embarrassed, or simply unsure who to ask or who to turn to for help and that is why federal programs matter. Aarp supports the elder justice act, the elder justice coordinating council. We support the adult maltreatment reporting system which collects data to inform effective, smart strategies for future growth.
▶ 0:40:48We also strongly support the older americans act, a cornerstone of the aging policy, and a front line defense against abuse. It supports more than 11 million older adults and their family care givers who provide necessary support and they provide services like legal aid, in-home care, meals, and transportation. These are not just programs. They reduce isolation, support independence, and lower the risk of abuse.
▶ 0:41:18Programs like the long-term care ombudsman make a real difference. I think about sandra madden from oklahoma. She spent 22 months in a nursing home after she had been identified and been in a guardian ship situation. With the help of her ombudsman, she transitioned back into the community. This is an example of how you can show support and advocacy by helping someone reach independence.
▶ 0:41:43We also support the guard act led by senator britt angela brandt and cosponsored by chairman scott which would give local law enforcement the tools to fight financial exploitation. We appreciate the leadership of other committee members on financial abuse legislation and it is supported by aarp. Guardianship is another important issue. While guardianship can protect people from harm, it transfers control over their decisions to another person.
▶ 0:42:11And it's not a guarantee of safety. That is why aarp supports stronger oversight, due process protections, and alternatives likes supported decision-making. States are leading the way. Aarp is involved in law. How civil lawsuits against abusers.
▶ 0:42:34It took us four years to pass and we also passed dementia training requirements for investigative teams and in a few weeks, we are hosting our first ever tribal elder abuse summit in tulsa. Another great example in pennsylvania, supported by partisan -- bipartisan legislation by pointing council and requiring explanation of alternatives and opposing certain certification requirements for professional guardians.
▶ 0:43:01Aarp new york successfully advocated for increased budget funding for the investment program that allows them to investigate more long-term care facilities and aarp florida supported legislation requiring establishment of statewide database of guardianship data which is important to confront.
▶ 0:43:21In short, elder abuse is real, widespread, and it's also preventable with smart policies, strong laws, and implementation, trained professionals, strong community support, and successful state solutions should be scaled and expanded.
▶ 0:43:39We urge congress to reauthorize and fund the older americans act, passed the guard act and expand family caregiver support and we encourage further investment in data collection and public education so that older adults and families know their rights and where to turn for help. Thank you again for the opportunity to testify. Aarp looks forward to working with the committee to ensure all older americans can age with dignity, sanctity, and respect.
▶ 0:44:06And if it is ok, I would like to give a shout to the capitol hill strikeforce. There is a strong group of volunteers who help us with our mission every day and we could not do without it. Thanks for letting me be here. Perhaps we would like to introduce our last witness. Thank you, madam chairwoman. I would like to move to introduce our final witness.
▶ 0:44:30She serves as the executive director of the national consumer voice for quality long-term care which represents individuals receiving long-term care facilities at home and community-based settings. She has a long history of advocating for individuals receiving long-term care and services and it is -- she is a nationally recognized expert on elder abuse. Thank you for being here. You may begin your testimony.
▶ 0:44:58>> thank you, chairman scott, ranking member gillibrand, and members of the committee, for holding this important hearing. The national consumer voice is the leading national organization representing consumers of long-term care. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis of elder abuse, neglect, and I. At least one in 10 older adults experience abuse and nearly half of those with dementia are affected.
▶ 0:45:22Isolation, cognitive decline, and dependence on others increases vulnerability and too often, these individuals are placed under guardianship or institutionalized under the guise of keeping them safe. Yet elder abuse is underreported and under investigated. Victims are often embarrassed to report to messier retaliation and the loss of independence, or think that nothing can be done. Those with cognitive impairment often are unable to report or ignored if they try to speak up. We recommend federal action in four areas.
▶ 0:45:53First, support elder justice. Elder justice programs such as the long-term care ombudsman program and adult protective services provide critical support that protect older adults while promoting their well-being and access to justice. The authorization of the older americans act along with greater investment by congress is necessary to ensure the availability of these services to an increasingly older population.
▶ 0:46:16Mandated to advocate for long-term care facility residents, the ombudsman program works to improve quality, protect residents rights, and address problems before they escalate into bigger issues. Ombudsman intervention has included preventing evictions of nursing home residents to homeless shelters, coordinating referrals to legal services to help residents get out from under guardianship, and coordinating with aps and law enforcement on behalf of residents being financially exploited.
▶ 0:46:43Federal funding for the program is necessary to ensure that all residents have access to an advocate. Despite growing demand for our investment services, funding has not kept pace. Suggested actions include reauthorizing the older americans act and the elder justice act to strengthen critical programs, increasing funding for elder abuse prevention in the fiscal year 2026 budget, and supporting the administration for community living which coordinates services for older adults and persons with disabilities.
▶ 0:47:15Secondly, we recommend enforcing federal standards in nursing facilities. 40 years after the reform act, enforcement of standards in a nursing facilities remains inadequate and persistent problems exist. Complaints have increased. Deficiencies cited are more serious. Substandard facilities continue to operate and residents go without care. At, questions exist about how billions of public dollars are spent by nursing home companies.
▶ 0:47:42In 2024 report estimated that as much as 68% of nursing industry profits are hidden and related party transactions. Suggested actions include increasing cms funding for oversight and auditing of cost reports. Requiring audited consolidated cost reports from facilities and requiring cms to use existing data to hold owners accountable for substandard conditions across facilities. Thirdly, we recommend support for direct care staff and adequate staffing and facilities.
▶ 0:48:13Understaffing leads to poor resident outcomes and increased citations for abuse and neglect. Neglected residents lie in their own waste, suffer from painful pressure wounds and are more likely to fall and be chemically restrained. Overburdened staff are forced to make choices about what care to provide. Understaffing causes great stress on caregivers and residents and leads to injury and abuse.
▶ 0:48:36Suggested actions in this area include funding programs to recruit and retain staff and reduce turnover, improving and enforcing requirements for staffing levels based on resident needs and acuity and ensuring compliance with abuse reporting and investigation requirements. Our fourth recommendation is to advance guardianship, research, and reform. Abuse or expectation increases the likelihood of guardianship and institutionalization for an older adult while guardianship can be a solution to abuse and neglect.
▶ 0:49:06It can also strip a person of rights and expose them to further abuse. Too often, full guardianship is imposed when less restrictive alternatives would suffice. Once under full guardianship, however, it is extremely difficult to reverse. Inconsistency across states raises the need for federal action in this area and suggested actions include providing federal funding to support state guardianship reforms and supporting research and data collection initiatives around guardianship.
▶ 0:49:36To conclude, established and effective programs exist that provide good models for preventing and responding to abuse and neglect. However, full investment in them has not occurred to ensure effectiveness in application for all older americans. We ask you to provide the investments that are needed so that older adults can live in dignity. Thank you. >> we appreciate you being here. Ok.
▶ 0:50:06Thank you. First time I am sharing for senator scott who has had to step out momentarily. Very used to the judiciary committee. Thank you so much for being here , paying attention to this incredibly important issue in florida. As you know, we are home to many seniors and as florida's attorney general, it was one of my top priorities in one of the first things I did was establish a senior protection team.
▶ 0:50:33We started working with elder organizations across the state of florida and tried to come up with new ways to not only identify the bad actors but actually hold them accountable and put them in jail many, many times. We recognize that his victimization but we never do the follow-up or the follow-through and those people go on to victimize many other people so I was really glad to see we have someone here from florida. I think it is estimated that one in 10 seniors will experience elder abuse.
▶ 0:51:04Only 7% of those cases will be reported to authorities. We were always encouraging those who were victimized to speak out , report it. Don't be embarrassed. Because the types of crimes seniors are falling for and the scams and fraud victimization. It really is happening to everyone. What the rapid evolution of technology, it is so easy to fall victim to some of the fraud going on out there.
▶ 0:51:30We want our seniors to understand it is not just happening to them because they are of advanced age. They may be targeted because they are advanced age but many people are falling for these things and we want them to report it. As attorney general, I realized that there were many seniors being victimized especially in the financial front and they may not have -- it might not reach the level where a federal agent might come in and investigate so often times, because of the smaller dollar, these things
▶ 0:52:03Were just let go and they would try and address the senior that was victimized but it was never followed up so we understood that if the smaller dollar case was going to start being pieced together to show that they were larger cases, we had to develop a team of experts within the state and that included statewide law enforcement and then in conjunction with local law enforcement, whether that be a sheriff's office or a police department and it really was kind blueprint for the nation
▶ 0:52:34Where we had this statewide expert team and we started a cyber fraud team. We were able to freeze millions of dollars in assets that would have gone into cryptocurrency, never heard from again and we were able to recover for some of these seniors and hold accountable some of these bad actors and the key is pulling together a state team, making sure they are educated in the new technology, and keeping that team together.
▶ 0:53:03I was really excited to hear from him, how you recognized that. It's always about throwing more money at a situation. Sometimes, it's about systematically pulling together the right team and making sure we are using existing laws and resources so I wanted to turn to you first, miss marotta. Welcome. So glad you're here from florida .
▶ 0:53:25I know you work -- I am the daughter of someone who dedicated their entire professional career to helping vulnerable seniors so maybe I come by it naturally, listening to it at the table growing up but in what way do you think we can better connect victims who might be experiencing fraud due to technology and those organizations like yours that is interfacing with them in law enforcement?
▶ 0:53:50Specifically some of these specialized taskforces that can help piece together the puzzle and develop these larger cases? >> it has helped to better connect organizations and agencies to combat the abuse that is happening, correct? >> definitely, it's a lot of outreach, not just in the older adult population but internally amongst organizations.
▶ 0:54:19You know, all of us being able, testifying, but also being able to coordinate those multidisciplinary teams so that we can reach those individuals and to have a process that truly can reach the clients that we are trying to reach.
▶ 0:54:41Those multidisciplinary taskforces, but they need to be able to have designated mike who is in charge of what. So that we are not over stepping on each other's toes but really, collaboration and outreach to the older adults and what better outreach than with agencies that have already thought that trusts such as area agencies on aging, aarp, our lead agencies that are
▶ 0:55:11On the front lines in the homes with seniors, making sure that they are providing that information with them. >> area agencies on aging really are kind of a catchall frontlines interface with some of our seniors so thank you for what you do. I will turn it to you.
▶ 0:55:27We really saw this take off in terms of being able to use technology to actually go after those using technology to target seniors and one of the things we really struggled with, finding talented folks in the cyber world to work for law enforcement and then interface with the feds, I am glad to hear you have a task force that you are working with. How do we take that kind of models that we are getting those smaller dollar cases and in fact building up across states?
▶ 0:55:54Are you able to do that with your organization? How do we take the florida model and make sure that is working in all 50 states? >> I appreciate the question.
▶ 0:56:08I think going off with -- what my colleague said, there is an educational component to it and sharing what is working in jurisdictions and how that can be scaled up to large jurisdictions and scaled down to more rural jurisdictions which is critically important to make sure we are not doing a one-size-fits-all approach. As you heard just in the san diego model, for example, there are countless agencies that are involved in that. Fusion centers are not often thought about as an information sharing tool. For a wide range of cases.
▶ 0:56:39You spoke about specialized training and the use of technology. I mean, there are places like the forensics institute that provides specialized training within this area to follow those investigative means, follow the money trail, follow the technology being used. We know that these scams and perpetrators don't have physical boundaries anymore.
▶ 0:57:04The virtual world is where a law is so in order to make sure that we are breaking down our own physical silos, you know, organizations like ours that provide training to local prosecutors and other multidisciplinary stakeholders, yes, that is one way to go about it.
▶ 0:57:24We don't want to reinvent the wheel and we want to make sure that we are putting resources where they are appropriately impressed used and that means communication and collaboration and with the model, it outlines who is doing what and what those parameters are which sets them up for success to start from. >> the statewide group as well. >> yes. >> thank you very much. I'm going to return the gavel. >> thank you, chairman.
▶ 0:57:55I wanted to just start with you. You had mentioned the long term ombudsman program. I was wondering if you could go into greater detail because it's a program I don't think as many people know about and from what you were saying earlier, it seems like it provides a lot of very useful tools to be able to address. Would you mind kind of explaining that a little bit? >> absolutely. The ombudsman program is really a critical advocate for people who receive long-term care and services.
▶ 0:58:23They are the only mandated advocacy organization that is specifically required to advocate for people in long-term care facilities but -- and in that vein, they respond to complaints. They provide education to staff and to residents. They help empower residents. They also are there to kind of look at the conditions in a facility and really help to stop problems from growing bigger.
▶ 0:58:55They help to address issues on the ground and often when they are small before they even get bigger so the ombudsman really is one who is advocating on behalf of the individual in the facility and really helping them to be empowered and get the best quality care possible. >> how do we ensure older americans are aware of this program and other programs and resources that are available to them? What are some of the best practices out there to be able to help get that out there?
▶ 0:59:23>> so a lot of the ombudsman programs exist in every state and community. They are really tied into the state aging and disability networks. Many of them are housed in state units on aging and area agencies on aging and they are part of the all the justice system as we have been talking about today.
▶ 0:59:44They are part of multidisciplinary teams so we really need to be looking at how we can best use the networks of the systems that we have to educate about the different programs and the resources that are available and how they can best help people who are receiving services and help support them.
▶ 1:00:03>> within that allow different services and programs available especially through the administration for community living, the a.c.l., I guess I just want to get a sense from you how important it is to maintain a.c.l. As a standalone agency. What would be the risk if we see some of that be weekend or see some of these efforts absorbed into other departments?
▶ 1:00:26>> when the administration for community living was established about a dozen years ago, it really became the hub or the center for the programs that are focused on aging and disability and really helped coordinate services, helps the collaborative efforts that were happening between and among the different agencies and helped foster that collaboration so that the programs could work most efficiently and effectively on behalf of the people who need services.
▶ 1:00:56That really continues to be needed particularly at a time when we are looking at an aging population. We really mean focus and the support that are being provided for older people, for people with disabilities in the administration for community living really enhances it. We are really concerned that the a.c.l.
▶ 1:01:14Is dismantled that it will get lost in the shuffle of a bigger agency and that the needs of people who are older and disabled will not get the attention that it needs. >> thank you. I would like to talk to you about, you know, an issue. This is something that came up at a town hall that I did.
▶ 1:01:37The constituent was raising an issue about her brother who was in a group home and this is about people with disabilities but we know that there are parallels between some of the issues of abuse and people with disabilities as well as with elder care. But it was an issue about the gaps in terms of legal justice remedies on that front so I guess I want to ask you if you could talk more about current elder justice laws and where they might fall short in terms of being able to provide protections and the impact that would have on the ability to hold perpetrators of elder abuse
▶ 1:02:10Accountable. >> sure. I really appreciate the question. I think one thing that is really important is providing, whether it be in current statutes that are available or future ones that are discussed, providing flexibility to account for emerging and evolving technology.
▶ 1:02:24We know it evolves at a very rapid rate so to be able to keep up with that, we need to provide flexibility so that as those trends and emerging threats are there, law enforcement, the stakeholders take advantage of statutes that exist. A comment was made about sort of thresholds and federal versus local jurisdictions.
▶ 1:02:47I think again, going back to the collaboration among federal, state, and local partners, we will allow not only state level statutes but federal statutes to be leveraged in a way that may not otherwise be thought of.
▶ 1:03:01I also think from the gaps, obviously, ensuring that resources are available is a financial component of it but making sure that there are tools, whether we talk about aggregation of instances that they occur, where somebody is victimizing multiple people, say in a guardianship situation, or that we are allowing for the reporting in standardized,
▶ 1:03:31Centralized reporting. We all talked about how underreporting is a prevalent factor in these cases so we are doing all that we can do to make sure we are facilitating the ease of reporting in order to capture the problem, provide adequate resources, and the tools necessary to fill the gaps. >> thank you. With that, I yelled back. >> senator husted. >> thank you Mr. chairman. I want to thank all of you for being here today, discussing an important topic.
▶ 1:04:01I bet almost everybody knows a senior who has been a victim of some type of financial scam. And you hear news about them every day, government impersonation scams, romance scams, grandparents scams, lottery sweep skates -- sweep states scams. Identity theft account takeover scams.
▶ 1:04:29These are just off the top of the list of all the things that we know on a daily basis elderly americans are being ripped off by it. I mean, I don't know what kind of person ripped off an elderly person with a clean conscious. It's terrible.
▶ 1:04:49But now, we have a new scam, deepfake scams, that I have a great deal of concern about and have actually introduced legislation that would prevent deepfake scams to provide best practices on how we can protect seniors on these issues.
▶ 1:05:07Aarp has said that the rise of ai driven fraud poses significant risks so I just wanted to ask you, what are prosecutors working on as it relates to ai scams and what gaps exist and how can we address it? >> yes, so in your own statement, you have seen state-level legislation looking at deepfakes as well and I know you are familiar with that so I think there are a number of things.
▶ 1:05:33As I mentioned to senator kim for his question, we have to keep up with evolving technology and you are right that deepfakes are quite prevalent now and are only growing. I think also, it's important to understand how the bad actors are utilizing those to their advantage and we are getting out the foundation of that technology and not just playing whack-a-mole with one thing to another.
▶ 1:05:58I think that again involves flexibility and I also think as we see ai advance, you know, recently, the passage of the passage of the g.e.n.I.U.S. act provided some frameworks around cryptocurrency and other issues around ai and I believe that providing a framework and a better structured to operate within will flush out the bad actors and provide for the necessary tools and resources to then manage the ever-growing
▶ 1:06:29Problem of ai, but we should also use it to our advantage. We can't just sit back and let bad actors use it. How can we use it on an offensive front to hold these bad actors accountable? And then our members prosecuting them accordingly to make sure that they are being held accountable. >> are the platforms where a lot of the scams occur, they can be emailed, text messaged, and they can also be in a variety.
▶ 1:06:59Are we doing enough to create awareness on the platforms and can companies do it? >> I don't think we are doing enough for awareness and I think the educational component of this both for law enforcement stakeholders and broader communities, those impacted by these crimes could be a more comprehensive approach. That is coordination and communication.
▶ 1:07:24That's creative ways of providing information on the latest scams from a prosecution perspective. That's also prosecutors being in their communities and educating their communities on what the latest scams are that they are seeing and making sure they know that if an individual thinks they are being taken advantage of or encounters one of these scams that they are able to report that in a way that then an individual is held accountable or a platform is held accountable and I do believe that companies can do more. >> this is so important.
▶ 1:07:56Nobody from government is ever going to ask you to pay for something with a gift card. We are not going to be doing those kinds of things and the more that we can make people aware of the scams going on, I think eyes can be wide open and it's also informing the children of grandparents and grandchildren to help them make their elderly family members aware. Let me ask about banks, credit unions, private sector technology firms.
▶ 1:08:27Our financial -- all financial industry is enough and what more can they do? >> I think all actors and stakeholders in this space can do more. And I think with financial institutions, we talked about ai and the ability to both proactively and look at what is happening and identify unusual activity that may be occurring for an individual's accounts and then also proactively use ai to
▶ 1:08:57Relieve some of the administrative burden of following the trail that leads to these bad actors, whether it be a single individual or a group of individuals which we are seeing that growing criminal enterprise. It's more than one person and their other offenses, not just in elder abuse and neglect, it's growing beyond that so I think that is critically important.
▶ 1:09:18I think financial institutions can do more as well and I also think that that is breaking down the silos amongst the different actors and making sure we are all communicating and sharing information in a way that is a comprehensive approach because silos do not help anyone. >> thank you all for being here today, for the work that you do to create awareness and protection from elder abuse.
▶ 1:09:40I think you would probably all agree it's just awareness and educating people about what is out there and taking the time to not assume that we are protecting them but actually doing something to help the older family members, friends in your life to understand that these threats are out there. Thank you, Mr.. >> thank you, senator. Ranking member gillibrand. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. I would like to ask about a piece of legislation we just wrote called the guard asked.
▶ 1:10:11Thank you for your support of our guarding unprotected aging retirees. Last year, seniors lost approximately 2.8 billion dollars to crypto scams. I literally had a friend who was listening to a scammer, went to her bank, took out $10,000, got in a taxi cab to take her from new york city to new jersey to an atm to load money in to pay the scammer and thank god, the machine got clogged so she only lost 1000 dollars of her $10,000
▶ 1:10:42But this is a highly educated woman who was, you know, absolutely convinced that she needed to do this and it is crazy because they don't understand crypto. They don't know what a crypto atm is, where the money is, what it is doing, and they especially don't recognize that once it is gone, it is gone.
▶ 1:11:01And I really am concerned about the lack of not only awareness but the lack of public service announcements and just as you said, the fact that platforms do nothing to warn about this type of scam so back to the question.
▶ 1:11:25Can you expand on how the guard act will help hold modern scammers accountable and the positive impacts it will have on older adults? >> thank you, senator, for the question, and thank you for leading out on this important legislation. Thank you, chairman scott, for cosponsoring.
▶ 1:11:44You know every day, we hear of individuals and elders who are defrauded and lose their money and go to local law enforcement and they are many times told there is nothing that they can do. We hear is to the helpline. It's a big concern so we think this legislation will go a long way in helping to train local law enforcement and provide them the support of training they need to make sure that they can help identify victims of abuse, financial abuse.
▶ 1:12:16You also touched on cryptocurrency and I might just point out that I believe there is around a dozen states that have taken on fighting that. That is the new fraud, instead of paying with gift cards, it is taking your cash out and putting it in cryptocurrency atm's like you referenced.
▶ 1:12:38There's probably a dozen states and I can get you the correct number of states that have taken that on this year that passed state legislation to put some daily limits and sort of oversight over those atm machines and we do have numbers of having those atm machines in the states but that is a growing concern that we see through our fraud watch network. Also, the aarp bank first program. Earlier, there was talk about how to be in the financial sector help?
▶ 1:13:08Many times, that tyler and those bank employees know those individuals at the bank so we have a program that helps provide educational training to bankers and their employees through the bank safe program and we are happy to provide any additional information. That is an outreach campaign. In our state of oklahoma, our bankers are very receptive it helping to protect their clients from science a sea some one financially exploiting them.
▶ 1:13:39>> thank you. Do you want to add to that answer? >> I am happy to. We appreciate your team also flagging the introduction of your new bill and we are happy to support that as well. As it grows in its efforts to move forward. I think as we look at the ability for law enforcement to not only be aware but be trained appropriately to capture these emerging technological threats that that is just critically important.
▶ 1:14:07We have talked extensively today about awareness and extensively about the ability to identify the challenges that are in front of us. When I was talking to your team, I equated it to many years ago when you have the identification of human trafficking victims and how we were going about training law enforcement and giving them the resources to identify common aspects of a trafficked victim.
▶ 1:14:35Well, their common aspects of an individual who is being taken advantage of as an older adult is also being able to identify those and empower law enforcement to be able to move forward with that is critically important so the legislation does not in the context of some of the latest scams we are seeing that are growing in the crypto space. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:14:59>> what if you got a letter and it was -- it looks like it was from some law firm and it came from canada and said there is a person with your same last name, we have not figured out whether they are related to you are not, but there is $10 million that we could possibly share, if we could help you prove that you are some sort of relative.
▶ 1:15:25And then you got on the internet and looked at the law firm, and it is a beautiful website, what would you recommend people do> >> I similarly get mortgage mailings at my own house that looks pretty realistic.
▶ 1:15:50Whether it is the law firm in canada or other scams, I foremoo provide outlets, as we talked about, this educational awareness campaign. I would hope as I mentioned in the testimony, that stop acronym, where you stop for a minute to think, okay, what seems off? Why would they be sending this to me? Maybe I should check in with a family member that I do trust to be able to say hey, I don't think that is the best thing we should be doing.
▶ 1:16:21I have had family members that have fallen potentially to be a victim who called me and said, what is this about? And I said it is spam,, do not move forward. It happens to anyone and everyone. There are no boundaries.
▶ 1:16:39It takes a network of resources and information to try to prevent it and from the enforcement side khamenei tools law enforcement can have to track down where that may be coming from and the ability to hold bad actors accountable, those tools are critically important. >> can you talk about some of the signs of seniors experiencing abuse and why programs offered by the older americans act are important? >> yes, thank you.
▶ 1:17:13The older americans act is important. We have title vii elder abuse prevention programs. We provide education to some of what was alluded to. We provide education to businesses, local partners to increase awareness in regards to elder abuse. Whenever we are able to spot abuse, it is through some of the services we are providing in the home.
▶ 1:17:37We have trained specialists that go into the home and are able to identify those red flags of abuse, because they are trained. As a senior our congregate meals sites, those specialists are also able to identify those signs of abuse, either malnutrition due to self-neglect , financial abuse because of that trust that they built with the specialist -- financial abuse.
▶ 1:18:08Because of the trust that they built with the specialist, they can be like, my son has taken my savings. The meals is another set of eyes going into the home and being able to identify the meals are still sitting outside the door, something must be going on with this older adult. So definitely the older americans act funding provides funding for all these programs that set another set of eyes for the older adults receiving them.
▶ 1:18:41>> what are you most proud of, what policy? What, if everyone did around the country, would have the biggest impact? >> the older americans act reauthorization really is a cornerstone of our aging policy. The programming they provide makes a difference.
▶ 1:19:07It is a strong investment in the communities by helping older adults live independently and keeping them out of costly institutional care. Not only are they on the front line helping individuals every day. It is a smart, strong investment that saves money. >> thank you, Mr. chair, for holding this hearing. Thank you so much for being here today.
▶ 1:19:38What we know as elder abuse is a silent crisis. It impacts sufferin isolation ad it impacts sufferin isolation at recourse. Whether it is financial exploitation in the physical or emotional abuse or neglect in care facilities, our seniors are still falling through the cracks and are vulnerable to mistreatment. I am part of the sandwich generation, which means I am raising both a college aged daughter while also supporting my aging parents.
▶ 1:20:09I am very concerned about my parents age, whether they will be safe and secure. As we talk about elder abuse, one I dealt with firsthand as a former prosecutor, I have many personal experiences. Not just constituents, but family members.
▶ 1:20:31Many scams involving grandparents receive a phone call that their grandchild is being held somewhere and the grandparent has to rush thousands of dollars some place to have the grandchild released. These are calls I have received. I just worry this issue is even more urgent for families who are living paycheck-to-paycheck. So many of our seniors have more love left in their houses than money. These are the people that have been targeted.
▶ 1:20:58Last week in my own home state of maryland I visited a senior facility with 150 seniors and this was the number one issue, financial exploitation. What we know as the current administration has proposed a dangerous plan to dismantle the administration for community living, eliminating one of the few federal agencies that is solely dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of older adults.
▶ 1:21:29These efforts are part of a broader disturbing pattern from this administration, to fire thousands of federal workers, gutting regional hhs offices, and walking away from our commitment to protect seniors in vulnerable communities.
▶ 1:21:49The trump administration has proposed eliminating the administration for community living and redistributing its core responsibilities across hhs.in maryland, these programs serve as a lifeline for underserved communities, especially older americans and adults of color who face systemic inequities in long-term care access.
▶ 1:22:11Approximately 40% of the staff at the administration for community living received layoff notices from doge, many of whom are subject matter experts with deep knowledge of elder justice policy and enforcement. What will gutting the various subject matter experts mean for the future of elder justice enforcement in our country? >> the biggest thing is losing that historical knowledge.
▶ 1:22:44And hopefully not stopping the resources needed by losing that historical knowledge, that information that they store. That would be the biggest obstacle, that historical knowledge being gone, and the dismantling of it. It would be hard to replace.
▶ 1:23:08>> during the pandemic, congress provided $100 million in emergency funding for elder justice initiatives, including adult protective services and prevention efforts. I wonder if anyone on the panel might be able to provide an answer about what lessons you think we have learned from the pandemic and what we risk losing if elder justice is de-prioritized in future budgets. >> I would be happy to respond.
▶ 1:23:42As we have an aging population and are all here talking about the concerns of elder abuse, dismantling acl, not providing adequate funding for these elder justice programs would put us at a disadvantage in being able to not only prevent but respond to the elder abuse we are talking about, including exploitation.
▶ 1:24:07These programs are critical tools to help prevent and support people who have been victimized by elder abuse. By defunding or not providing the necessary resources needed in order to support the older population, really provides a disservice, to them, and frankly to all of us. We will all age and need these services at some point.
▶ 1:24:39I'm putting the investment into the programs, helping to coordinate the responses of the programs and collaborative efforts of all the programs we have been talking about today will make us stronger as a nation. >> thank you. >> can you talk about why the meal delivery programs authorized under the older americans acts are so important in the fight against elder abuse and neglect?
▶ 1:25:04>> when an older adult comes seeking for a meal, they are not only receiving that congregation, ability to meet with other older adults. That eliminates loneliness. These older adults can have a place to play bingo, talk to somebody, not feel isolated. It is a set of eyes.
▶ 1:25:35Is this person being abused? Once they build that relationship with the agency, that means they built a connection. They are more prone to confide in any issues going on in the home or with any contractor. In florida, we have seen after hurricane ian there is a lot of fraud going on, and the first targeted our seniors. -- are seniors.
▶ 1:26:05When they are getting a meal delivered at home, that is another eyes -- another set of eyes to assist these older adults. >> on behalf of the ranking member, we would like to thank everyone for participating. I would like to work with members across the aisle and down the dais. If senators have additional questions for the witnesses, the hearing record will be open
▶ 1:26:27Until Next Wednesday At : 00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m. You all did a great job. Things for being here, and thanks for what you do. ♪