Nevada Legislative Committee Backs Bill against Elder Abuse
In Cason City, Nevada, a legislative committee unanimously supported a bill that would add fines to differing forms of elder abuse. Legislative Bill 5855 allows the attorney general to place fines against crimes of fraud against a person over 60 as well as crimes of abuse, neglect and isolation. The amount in fines ranges from $5,000 for first-offenders and $30,000 thereafter. The bill will reportedly also help with compensation for victims of elder abuse or neglect. The bill will now go to the Senate floor.
Approving these types of bills may not completely prevent elder abuse and neglect from occurring, but it would still bring about stiffer penalties for people that commit such acts. It would allow the victim to get better compensation for any damages or injuries that they may suffer as a result of elder abuse or negligence. If more of these bills are passed into law by the houses of Congress and subsequently by the president of the United States, it would increase the amount of assistance and support that is already in place for elderly residents.
As long as funding for other programs currently in place does not dwindle, bills such as this one in Nevada will only continue to fortify protection for elderly residents. However, if financing does fall, the holes in the protection against elder abuse and neglect will grow bigger and those that are affected by it will continue to suffer tremendously. The increased compensation for victims of elder abuse and neglect is much deserved as they should never have to face a situation where they are victimized in any way.
