Seven elder abuse prevention forums were held over the fall to hear from Missourians across the state who have concerns about their loved ones. The statewide tour was organized by Lt. Governor David Wasinger and state Sen. Adam Schnelting, R-St. Charles.
It’s been a labor of love for both elected leaders, who have dealt with similar circumstances voiced by members of the audience during the forums. Wasinger told Missourinet the concerns included financial, physical, and emotional abuse among senior citizens.
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office held presentations at the forums to outline complaints and concerns it receives from citizens about financial fraud, illegal robocalls, and other tactics targeting the elderly.
“These scams take place and are particularly getting worse with artificial intelligence. So, our seniors can’t be too careful in terms of unsolicited phone calls, getting on the computers,” said Wasinger.
The forums have led to Schnelting crafting legislation to address some of these issues. He has pre-filed Senate Bill 910 for the next legislative session.
Missouri does not require assisted living and senior care centers to have liability insurance.
“(It would) be like driving a car, you know, and having a wreck and not having any type of insurance. So the more reputable senior facilities we talked to we’re very surprised and I think in favor of mandating some type of liability insurance for these nursing homes, or senior facilities that maybe are not quite as reputable as others,” Wasinger told Missourinet.
Schnelting’s bill would require a minimum of $1 million in liability insurance to cover against losses of neglect, abuse, and wrongful death of any nursing home and assisted living residents.
Current Missouri law involving the abuse of an elderly, vulnerable, or disabled person is a class A misdemeanor. Schnelting’s pre-filed bill would strengthen the penalty to a class E felony when the person is a care provider.
“If the abuse is severe enough, they need to be held accountable and that would include stronger criminal penalties for those that are abusive and have intent to abuse these folks. And we heard story after story of some of these loved ones, you know, where they were intentionally abused or neglected and it was just heartbreaking,” said Wasinger.
Some nursing home operators set up different shell companies that own and operate a variety of aspects of the nursing home.
“They will have a shell company for the operating company. They’ll have a shell company where the real estate is located. They’ll have personnel where they’ll hire and use it as an employment agency. So they use it as a shell game, so they can’t be held accountable,” Wasinger told Missourinet.
He encourages families to know who owns and operates the senior center or assisted living community where their loved ones are staying.
Schnelting’s bill would also require the Department of Health and Senior Services to display an abuse and neglect icon next to the informational listing on its website of any long-term care or assisted living center that has a substantiated finding of abuse or neglect.
To see details about Senate Bill 910, click here.
The Missouri Legislature’s next session begins January 7 in Jefferson City.
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