Maryland takes on elder abuse
It might have gone unnoticed during the deliberations of the 445th Maryland legislative session, but the state has taken an important step in attacking the scourge of elder abuse. The General Assembly passed Senate
Bill 797 and House Bill 1191, establishing the Task Force on Preventing and Countering Elder Abuse. The measures were signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore on May 16.
Our population is aging. Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that 22% — more than 1 in 5 adults — will be age 60 or older by 2030.
That is a mere seven years from now. Not taking on elder abuse risks the well-being of Maryland residents as our population ages. We must help those who suffer abuse, as well as their families, their caregivers and their friends and neighbors. We must hold perpetrators accountable, even if they are family, friends, caregivers or neighbors.
The task force is authorized to begin work July 1 and consists of 20 members who come from various disciplines that are involved with elder welfare. The task force must consider oversight measures, ways to increase awareness and transparency, and ways to prosecute this crime.
A preliminary report must be submitted to Gov. Moore and the General Assembly by Dec. 31. A final report is due at the end of 2024. AARP Maryland intends to monitor the activities of the task force with great interest, and we stand ready to help the task force achieve the goals of this important legislation.
To raise awareness about elder abuse and financial exploitation, AARP Maryland, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, the Maryland Department of Aging, the Maryland Department of Human Services, the Maryland Department of Financial Regulations, the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with local government and consumer groups, are hosting Protect Week, a statewide awareness and public education campaign.
Running from June 12 through June 17, Protect Week coincides with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 and features free virtual and in-person events around the state, including webinars, shred events and workshops. For a complete schedule, visit www. aarp.org/md.
Integrity has officially left the fairway
The decision by the nation’s premier professional golf association to sell itself to Saudi Arabia (“The PGA TourLIV Golf merger: What you need to know,” June 7) is more than a sports story. It’s another demonstration of the erosion of integrity in our society.
Saudi Arabia funds terrorists, tramples on the human rights of its own citizens and murders dissidents. Its leader reportedly authorized the brutal death of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Yet the PGA will now be dependent, at least in part, on the Saudi wealth fund. As for why, the late NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer quipped that “the answer to all your questions is money.” Actually, for some questions, the answer is power.
Politicians support election deniers to hang on to to their seats. Social media firms put profit over the mental health of children. Pharmaceutical companies get even richer by pushing highly addictive drugs. And why did Amy Coney Barrett accept her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court a mere 30 days before the 2020 election after the U.S. Senate refused to act on a Supreme Court nomination by President Barack Obama nine months before the 2016 election?
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching,” said British writer C.S. Lewis. Too many in today’s America fail to do the right thing when everyone is watching.