Pennsylvania is home to 3.4 million older adults, and we must ensure they can age with the dignity and security they deserve. With this in mind, we will soon re-introduce legislation similar to SB 885 from last session to establish a statewide registry of persons found to be substantiated perpetrators of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exploitation of older adults.

This legislative measure is in memory of Alice Longenberger, a constituent of Senator Culver’s who endured unthinkable abuse at the hands of two individuals that should have never been allowed to provide care for anyone. While our judicial system has taken action against the perpetrators, there is nothing preventing them from doing this again. Alice’s daughter, Lynn, has committed to honoring her mother by protecting other older adults through an elder abuse registry. Click here to learn more about Alice and Lynn’s story.

Elder abuse takes many forms, such as financial, emotional, physical, and sexual harm. Abuse also comes in the form of neglect, abandonment, or exploitation. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 10 elderly Americans are abused annually in the United States.

Our legislation will require the Department of Aging to establish a statewide elder abuse registry that would include the name, address, and photograph of the abuser and a description of the abuse, including dates and locations. Additionally, individuals on the registry will be prohibited from working as a caregiver of care dependent individuals.

A similar memo was circulated earlier this session, but we are recirculating to establish this legislation as Alice’s Law and to put a face with the need for such a registry in our Commonwealth.

Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation to improve our Commonwealth’s prevention and response to elder abuse and in honoring Alice and all those who have been impacted by the unimaginable acts of abuse.