Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) introduced The Elder Abuse Prevention in Public Housing Act into the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 18.

 

The bill, if passed, would amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide training for employees of public housing agencies (PHAs) regarding the prevention, identification, and intervention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation in public housing settings. The goal is to ensure that public housing agency staff can recognize and respond appropriately to instances of elder abuse.

 

According to the congressman’s office, potential benefits, if the bill passes, include enhanced protection for elder residents. Officials from the congressman’s offce said trained staff will be more equipped to detect and respond to abuse, preventing harm and improving the quality of life for elder persons.

 

Officials said the bill aims to reduce incidents of elder abuse by proactively identifying and intervening, lowering healthcare costs and reducing the burden on social services. They said it also aims to strengthened partnerships, saying annual consultations with local agencies would build stronger partnerships between PHAs and organizations specializing in elder care, creating a community of support around vulnerable residents.

 

Officals at the congressman’s office said elder abuse, which includes physical, emotional, and financial harm, is a pervasive issue that affects one in ten older Americans each year. They said this problem is particularly acute in public housing settings, where vulnerable elder residents may be isolated and less able to advocate for themselves.

 

They said unfortunately, employees of PHAs may not be adequately trained to recognize or respond to signs of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. They said current gaps include lack of training, inconsistent policies across jurisdictions, and a growing elder population in public housing.

 

They said most public housing agencies do not provide specialized training to their employees on how to handle cases of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and without proper training, these employees may overlook critical warning signs, fail to provide appropriate support, or inadvertently exacerbate the situation.

 

Officials also discussed inconsistent policies across jurisdictions, saying that while some PHAs have taken proactive steps to address elder abuse, there is no consistent standard or requirement at the federal level, resulting in a patchwork approach to protecting elder residents. They said the number of elder residents in public housing is also expected to increase significantly, making it imperative for PHAs to adapt and ensure that their staff members are prepared to meet the needs of this vulnerable group.

 

They said currently over 77,000 NYCHA residents are adults aged 62 and older, representing approximately 24% of the total NYCHA population. They said over 43% of Section 8 households in New York City have an older adult resident and it is estimated that one in ten older adults will experience some form of abuse each year.

 

They said research suggests that as few as one in 24 cases of elder abuse are reported to authorities, and in the majority of elder abuse cases, the older adult is mistreated by someone they know, and a recent study showed that in nearly half (47%) of the cases, the person causing harm was a family member.

 

Earlier on Oct. 18, Torres held a press conference at SHOPP Casa Boricua Older Adult Center in The Bronx to announce the legislation. He was joined by leaders from LiveOn NY, the Weinberg Center, and Neighborhood SHOPP.

 

The full text of the bill can be viewed here.