ALBANY -- New York is taking actions to help identify elder abuse.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law Wednesday that will require state agencies to develop guidelines to help healthcare providers be able to better identify cases of elder abuse, self-neglect and maltreatment.
The plans call for better identification of signs of elder abuse, screening tools as well as questions that can be asked by healthcare providers and other resources that they can use to seek additional help or to report suspect a cases of abuse.
"This bill will go a long way in helping to empower our medical professionals to play a proactive role in preventing elder abuse, an epidemic that too often flies under the radar," said the bill sponsor Sen. Sue Serino, R-Hyde Park, Dutchess County, in a statement.
The guidelines will be developed by Office for the Aging, the Department of Health and the Office of Children and Family Services and be available on their websites.
A 2011 state study about elder abuse found that for each reported incident, there are 24 unreported cases. Elder abuse can be physical, financial or psychological, with the majority of reported cases in New York being psychological.
"These new guidelines will allow people who regularly interact with seniors to know exactly how to identify potential abuse and the process for reporting cases. As our aging population continues to grow, it's important that we focus on these types of protections," said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, D-Endwell, Broome County, who sponsored the bill.
According to the National Council on Aging, one out of 10 Americans over age 60 have experienced some type of elder abuse, and cases are often underreported because victims do not want to tell on someone in their family.
The goal of the new law, advocates said, is to help healthcare workers build relationships with their patients, detach signs of abuse and report them to the proper authorities.