DOJ Establishes Regional Elder Justice Task Forces

Here at Boller & Vaughan, we applaud the actions of the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year in establishing ten regional Elder Justice Task Forces across the United States. These task forces will consist of prosecutors at the federal, state, and local levels, law enforcement authorities, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, state Adult Protective services agencies, Long-Care Ombudsman programs, and other agencies that provide services to elderly individuals. This initiative has established task forces in one district each in the states of California, Iowa, Maryland, Georgia, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, and Kentucky.

The goal of these task forces is to form more coordinated, quick, and effective efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide an inadequate level of care to their residents, with the ultimate aim of protecting the elderly in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. This fits with the Department of Justice goal of holding nursing homes and other long-term care providers accountable for failing to provide their residents with the standard of care to which they are entitled. More specifically, the Department targets facilities that are more interested in economic gain than patient care, which often jeopardizes the health and well-being of their residents.

The Elder Justice Initiative of the Department of Justice administers the regional task forces, as well as coordinates and spearheads the Department’s law enforcement efforts and policy activities with respect to elder justice issues. The Elder Justice Initiative will provide litigation support and training to the regional task forces. This section of the Department of Justice also focuses on other elder justice issues, including mass mail and telemarketing scams that target the elderly, financial exploitation of the elderly, and abandonment of the elderly by family members. Together with other federal agencies, the Initiative is working toward increasing public awareness of elder abuse, researching cognitive capacity and mental health, supporting and training caregivers, calculating the financial impact of elder abuse, and investing more resources in services, education, and research to combat elder abuse.

At Boller & Vaughan, we are nursing home injury lawyers who pride ourselves on representing the rights of those countless individuals who suffer injuries as a result of the wrongful behavior of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care homes. The devastation of losing a loved one can be overwhelming and traumatic. Allow us to handle the legal aspects of your situation, while you and your family focus on the healing process. Call our office today to set up your free consultation.