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Older Americans Act: Title VII Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection

For nearly forty years, the Older Americans Act has expressed the nation's commitment to protecting vulnerable older Americans at risk.

When the Act was reauthorized in 1992, Congress created and funded a new Title VII, Chapter 3 for prevention of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Title VII Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection also includes provisions for long term care ombudsman programs and state legal assistance development.

In the most recent amendments of 2000, Congress called on states to foster greater coordination with law enforcement and the courts. As the years have gone by, Title VII Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection has proven instrumental in promoting public education and interagency coordination to address elder abuse.

Title VII is designed to serve as an advocacy tool. In 2001, ombudsmen investigated 264,269 thousand complaints against nursing homes and other adult care facilities.

In the area of legal rights, Title VII includes a provision for a legal assistance developer in each state to serve as a focal point at the highest state level for all aspects relating to legal services for the elderly. Since 1992, no funds have been appropriated for this chapter.

Since the early 1990s elder abuse prevention funding has remained relatively constant at slightly over $5 million. Funds are divided on the basis of the 60 and older population of each state.

Learn More:

Links: Text of Title VII Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Law
(1992 amendments, to be updated when text with 2000 amendments is available) Unofficial Compilation of the OAA as amended in2000 Full Text of Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (amendments only)
Legal Hotline Directory (online)
Administration on Aging (AoA) Fact Sheet: Protecting the Rights of Older Americans
State Laws: Long Term Care Ombudsman State Enabling Statutes Prepared by the National Association of State Units on Aging.
Report to Congress: Abuse of Residents is a Major Problem in U.S. Nursing Homes This report is the first investigation to assess the incidence of abuse in nursing homes. Analysis found that nearly one in every three nursing homes were cited for abuse violations in the period 1999-2001. The report does not estimate the number of nursing home residents who have been victims of abuse.
National Support Center in Law & Aging: Recent Elder Rights Advocacy Developments by State News about legislative, litigative, and administrative advocacy initiatives and accomplishments, as well as significant legal services delivery systems achievements and elder rights community education projects. A service of the The Center for Social Gerontology (TCSG).
Award Winning Initiative: Establishing an Elder Justice Center Elder Justice Initiative of Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, Tampa, Fl
2001 National Association for Court Management's Justice Achievement Award Winner
Links to: Legal Services Providers for Older Americans by State Web links to legal services providers in every state (The Center for Social Gerontology - TCSG).
AoA's Legal Hotline Directory: Legal Hotlines for Older Americans by State

Last Updated: October 22, 2003

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