Protect People with Dementia from Elder Abuse!

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. As the disease advances through the brain, an individual may experience difficulty with remembering newly learned information, confusion with time or place, decreased or poor judgement, and changes in mood or personality. As someone who cared for my wife during her journey, I know how important it is to recognize and understand the unique needs of individuals living with dementia.

The loss of cognition associated with Alzheimer’s not only deems individuals unable to advocate for themselves, it also heightens their risk for experiencing elder abuse. Given the growing number of people living with dementia, social services and criminal justice professionals will increasingly encounter this vulnerable group and working with them can be fundamentally different than working with other victims of abuse or exploitation. Yet these professionals receive little or no training, and I implore Congress to change this.

By co-sponsoring the bipartisan Promoting Alzheimer’s Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act (S. 3703/H.R. 6813), our Representative Bill Foster can improve elder abuse training to specifically include dementia. If passed, the Department of Justice would ensure these professionals are educated and equipped to properly communicate with and protect victims of elder abuse living with Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

Congressman Foster has been dedicated to helping us advocate for a world without this overwhelming disease. Please join me in asking Congressman Foster to co-sponsor this vital legislation as we work together to protect the more than 5 million American’s living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Larry Mallon
Aurora, IL 60505