Legislation Aimed At Protecting Elderly Tennesseans From Abuse Moves Forward

Legislation sponsored by House Republicans that cracks down on elder abuse and exploitation continues to advance through the House committee process.

House Bill 810, known as the Elderly and Vulnerable Adult Protection Act, closes legal loopholes in existing abuse laws to further protect some of our most vulnerable from criminal targeting. The legislation increases penalties and raises fines for elder abuse offenders while also enabling the Tennessee Department of Human Services to track serial abusers by placing them on a registry.

House Bill 810 is part of a larger effort by lawmakers this year to help ensure the safety of Tennessee’s senior citizens. Over the last several years, there has been a nationwide increase in the number of cases related to the financial exploitation of seniors as technology and internet related scams have been on the rise.

Two additional pieces of legislation that have already passed the full House this year include House Bill 304, which helps protect the elderly and those at increased risk of cognitive impairment from financial exploitation by providing the Tennessee Securities Division with the tools needed to help detect and prevent financial fraud and abuse.

Similarly, House Bill 1064 adds tools and greater flexibility as to how financial institutions can best protect their customers when they have reason to suspect financial exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults is occurring or being attempted.

Studies show that approximately 20% of seniors have been a victim of financial exploitation at a cost of approximately $2.9 billion annually. Moreover, these numbers are likely low as it is also estimated that only one out of every 44 instances of financial abuse is actually reported.