Elder Justice Task Force
The United States Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the United States Department of Justice Civil Division, has launched an Elder Justice Task Force to combat neglect, abuse, and financial exploitation of seniors occurring in the Middle District of Tennessee.
As part of this initiative, this Office is actively engaged in efforts to:
- Pursue nursing homes, personal care homes, skilled nursing facilities, medical providers, and other businesses that provide grossly substandard care or exploit programs that provide healthcare to seniors, such as Medicare;
- Investigate and prosecute financial scams targeting or disproportionately impacting seniors;
- Promote greater coordination with state and local partners to combat elder abuse;
- Provide public outreach, education, and awareness relating to elder abuse; and
- Provide training and resources to law enforcement to identify and respond to elder abuse.
For more information about the Department of Justice’s elder justice initiative, please visit elderjustice.gov to find prosecutor training, the Multidisciplinary Teams Toolkit, Outreach resources, and links to law enforcement training and resources.
The FTC’s Pass It On website is designed to educate consumers, particularly elder consumers, about various scams. The website contains a variety of articles, presentations, and other materials that may be of use to you in your outreach efforts. Note that the materials are available in English and Spanish.
The materials can be ordered in bulk by clicking here.
Addition information regarding laws and resources for combatting elder abuse is available through our state and local partners. We encourage you to visit their websites:
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – links to the TBI’s webpage dedicated to elder abuse.
- Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability -- The Commission is the designated state agency on aging and provides leadership relative to aging issues on behalf of older persons in the state. This homepage contains informative links and a link to details on how to file an elder abuse complaint with the State of Tennessee.
- Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability Long-Term Care Ombudsman -- A federally funded, state-wide program responsible for advocating for the rights of those residing in licensed nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and homes for the aged. The primary responsibility of this program is to resolve complaints regarding the health, safety and welfare of residents of long-term care facilities, as well as educating residents of their rights. The services of the Ombudsman are free and confidential.
- Tennessee Department of Health Abuse Registry – information on health care professionals with records of abuse, searchable by name and social security number.
- Tennessee Department of Health Facility Complaints – links to a form and description of the process for filing a complaint against a healthcare facility in Tennessee.
- Tennessee Department of Health Complaints Against Healthcare Professionals – links to the form and process for filing a complaint against a healthcare professional.
This Office welcomes information from the public that brings potential elder abuse issues to our attention. If you have information concerning a potential violation of federal laws that you wish to report, please complete our Elder Justice Complaint Form and email it to our Elder Justice Coordinator. Please keep in mind that he United States Attorney’s Office is primarily a legal office and not an investigative agency. Furthermore, this Office cannot represent you in any matter. Therefore, you may need to consult and retain your own attorney in order to pursue any individual claims that you may have.
The National Crime Victim Bar Association may be able to assist. You can contact them for more information, (202) 467-8716 or (844) 529-4357, or email victimbar@ncvc.org. You may also wish to contact the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and The Cumberlands at (800) 238-1443.
Below you can read more about recent resolutions and other matters relating to elder justice in the Middle District of Tennessee:
Former Investment Advisor Indicted For Defrauding Brentwood Woman
Investment Advisor Sentenced To Federal Prison for Investment Fraud Scheme
Antioch Man Sentenced In Insurance Fraud Scheme
Franklin Insurance Agent Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Over $100,000 From Elderly Client
Middle Tennessee Podiatrist Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud
Crossville, Tennessee Woman Indicted In Jamaican Lottery Scam
Alive Hospice Pays U.S. And Tennessee Over $1.5 Million To Resolve False Claims Act Lawsuit
CareAll Companies Agree To Pay $25 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
Timothy Thomas, Former Owner Of United Benefits Of America, And Wife Indicted
Former Owners Of Murfreesboro Ambulance Service Sentenced To Federal Prison For Defrauding Medicare
Elder Justice Coordinator
Email: USATNM-ElderJustice@usdoj.gov
United States Attorney’s Office – Middle District of Tennessee
110 9th Avenue South, Suite A-961
Nashville, TN 37203
P: (615) 736-5151
F: (615) 401-6626