[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6141021,"mediaKeyId","5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1","parentId",5576535,"title","Witnesses call for stronger guardianship reform, research and data collection to prevent abuse and preserve rights","audioSeconds",84,"startMs",2929000,"endMs",3013000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1&start=2929&end=3013","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1/thumbnail_2929000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6141021/Witnesses-call-for-stronger-guardianship-reform-research-and-data-collection-to-prevent-abuse-and-preserve-rights","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141021-a927ea86b722860c79cc5b35cde7013a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770490828&Signature=g-~V82RWUtYgcKg4ZLL37yHQzyqx6v8gpQDj3hyamQ3hjAeo6VQ5mJKPPkpPYoSk3P~VMWXlecND4b3o1By9-xdtYaibJIsntpqLgKmweVF1OTSHT5qZz7hJJJd5xClBQLr-xsd98cSJJldaC4uFvoRK07IIbqUFp7E1dSvUVj84LYsa7KZ4x3viNa7VHGOlImPlCtk9MrG21-WemQvWUNAtCw01wPnVoWG49nSMAz63Kx3Z-6bUG6tno4hMYoQ7pQyS3ABiJZozN4NMHVRddsMF4SMQFkJXjr6Q6f8JxaEBYjrBQAA1Ud-cEz6bMohe~8h4nXP36dDiYivqnz-LCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","US Aging (Special) Committee","date","2025-07-30T00:00:00Z","article","At the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, witnesses described guardianship as a double-edged tool that can protect older adults but can also remove rights and create new avenues for exploitation.
Lori Smetanka urged federal funding to support state court guardianship reforms and better data collection. \"While guardianship can be a solution to abuse and neglect, it can also strip a person of rights and expose them to further abuse,\" she told the committee, adding that full guardianship is often difficult to reverse.
AARP witnesses urged alternatives such as supported decision-making, stronger oversight and appointed counsel in guardianship proceedings. Sean Vosco highlighted state reforms—his testimony noted recent state laws and pilot programs that increase due process and require certification for professional guardians.
Witnesses recommended federal research to improve guardianship data, standardized reporting to reduce undercounting of abuse, and judicial training to explore less-restrictive alternatives before imposing full guardianship.
Discussion vs. decisions: Testimony recommended federal funding and model court reforms; the committee did not adopt or vote on any specific legislative text during the hearing.
Ending: Witnesses asked Congress to fund guardianship reforms and research so courts and advocates can better protect older adults’ rights while preventing exploitation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Awareness to Action: Combating Elder Abuse & Neglect","oneSentenceSummary","Panelists recommended federal funding for guardianship reform, improved court practices, alternatives to full guardianship and investment in research and data to detect abuse and track outcomes.","taxTitle","Aging (Special), Special, Select and Other Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",2006,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6141022,"Advocates press senators to boost oversight, staffing and financial transparency in nursing facilities",125,2841000,2966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1&start=2841&end=2966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1/thumbnail_2841000.jpg","/articles/6141022/Advocates-press-senators-to-boost-oversight-staffing-and-financial-transparency-in-nursing-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141022-958b2311baab0c52fa871b20a18bd140/orig.mp4?Expires=1770490828&Signature=KIesARjdj8IjwGbPstX~H8UOX8IYSpFcOTVh7hlPWDeMnpJ2GY8fLE8xKeBboE9xjJ~YbyHDaeHTSLIGRTQ2y01mL56o8SJYA85B0-2tP~z8HWDFoVZEBVpGMOzKKvtdlzzkAi8Fd7QoyuIJlDOcXfJcP~r1HVtrmZzCWor8NbE1~xDeyKf2XxudCRV-QARmdBAszvacpZkZrLH1kL9YBhcIF7q6pWi780EASo-VqPSTgAJZMSfAwByP6eAxpytVAIIij3SImWB1xU5~r8-hpgrjBZovHwC5WoMaLi4b9X5FhL09U3Wl2TXxl8xBGli5k0~z193ll0cMnDzWcW6vlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, Lori Smetanka of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care urged stronger federal enforcement of nursing home standards, increased staffing and more financial transparency from nursing-home companies.
Smetanka said enforcement of the Nursing Home Reform Act remains inadequate nearly 40 years after its passage and that complaints, serious deficiencies and substandard care persist. “Complaints to survey agencies and ombudsman have increased,” she said, and a 2024 report referenced in testimony estimated that a large share of industry profits are obscured by related-party transactions.
Suggested actions Smetanka offered included increasing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services funding for oversight and auditing; requiring audited consolidated cost reports from facilities; and directing CMS to use existing data to hold owners accountable when substandard conditions exist across facilities. She also linked understaffing to poor outcomes, citing pressure wounds, falls and increased citations for abuse and neglect.
Senators and witnesses discussed workforce interventions and legislative options: Smetanka recommended federal funding to recruit and retain direct-care staff, stronger staffing requirements tied to resident acuity, and enforcement of abuse-reporting and investigation requirements.
Discussion vs. decisions: Testimony focused on recommended federal rules and funding; there were no committee votes. Witnesses asked for futures actions including audits, funding increases and staff-recruitment programs.
Ending: Advocates framed reforms as necessary to protect residents’ rights and reduce preventable harm in facilities; they asked Congress and CMS to act on auditing, staffing and data transparency.","Consumer advocates told the Senate committee that enforcement of nursing-facility standards remains inadequate, that chronic understaffing increases the risk of neglect and abuse, and that greater CMS oversight and financial-reporting requirements are needed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6141027,"Area agencies on aging tell Senate their programs find and prevent elder abuse through meals, case management and local trust",168,1601000,1769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1&start=1601&end=1769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1/thumbnail_1601000.jpg","/articles/6141027/Area-agencies-on-aging-tell-Senate-their-programs-find-and-prevent-elder-abuse-through-meals-case-management-and-local-trust","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141027-2a7face3f76879cd8a449e8403505f33/orig.mp4?Expires=1770490828&Signature=mPPnQ60K48vQZR6asGH3OZ5SqASIV4ai1fJxOvdGnPhI92cziLt5mUub2HZP-5Zwt6~kpGB0-uhtMGFEFnzuppEZMiWb6P5H28tQdCPTpB-cQZsR0DOCmxgDjK4qQE9ndZPu01VJvSBgRe0C0OwIWM6jXCmQnjmK2u-3cG4pjkgDqf3u61OCuTmdgvGini3w-E~Wswpg5DuN81HMRO-7OEwD5-FhG5km6hjfWKIeM8mHeSdSmRP33xq-z9VFfmNejOLE3QE-191ttjMjOtjv2cxToDSfgQTUjTKP-sOns-vy2IeK22t7Qi2~zJwEcxbxpFsawMKrfJ26-pplO5rhiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Witnesses described local Area Agencies on Aging as the front line for spotting abuse and delivering interventions that keep older adults safe.
Marcela Morado, president and CEO of the Southwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, described several case examples in which OAA-funded services enabled detection and response: a respite specialist found a 93-year-old woman with unexplained bruises and removed her to safety after reporting to Adult Protective Services; OAA-funded legal services helped prosecute a perpetrator after an 89-year-old woman lost her life savings to a scammer.
Morado said the trust built through in-home services, meal delivery and senior centers makes it more likely that seniors will disclose abuse. “Our greatest strength is the deep trust we've built with the people we serve,” she said, adding that AAAs respond quickly through multidisciplinary teams and that OAA-funded early-intervention networks can respond to high-priority cases within 24 hours.
AARP witnesses and others urged that these community services be sustained and expanded. “These programs reduce isolation, support independence and lower the risk of abuse,” Sean Vosco said, citing state-level successes and volunteer support networks that supplement agency capacity.
Discussion vs. decisions: Testimony documented program roles and recommended increased funding; there were no committee votes. Senators asked witnesses how local agencies can better coordinate with law enforcement and technology task forces to aggregate small-dollar financial fraud into larger investigations.
Ending: Panelists urged lawmakers to treat community-based services as cost-effective, evidence-based prevention that reduces reliance on institutional care and protects seniors’ dignity.","Local area agencies on aging (AAAs) testified that OAA-funded services—home-delivered meals, respite, case management and congregate sites—create trusted relationships that enable early detection and prevention of abuse and neglect.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6141032,"Senate hearing spotlights rising financial exploitation of older adults; Guard Act and tech-driven scams central to discussion",2547,1453000,4000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1&start=1453&end=4000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1/thumbnail_1453000.jpg","/articles/6141032/Senate-hearing-spotlights-rising-financial-exploitation-of-older-adults-Guard-Act-and-tech-driven-scams-central-to-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141032-d046e36711f0267e251bd7a036c152b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770490828&Signature=W5RXbqczQEEdWm8XKphI6RUlfZlvTBrE-ah6JyQMqxAk89BAszLuNRPr86iXNm5p26nS8qDKUnSEZFSuydH~FK95OVDV-vrHYfY87o2R4QC5xG8LW1ZvhQPxvmdBUbqYZNyzhSyTQyBKy0ASaW5B~BiUSPEvLg06RelqSqOyfIL5MwtehSGPrl0EFL7JhsmOBaAIh951z~FRD9ywUbHtMccYEniM2Os-n5iuNsztOc2W-AR12c7zJ-SKM0ue5mtilhzx3~gXPYJuX6WVdND~G2HWs8yrDLpssccmrXU4e7NHrHYYVIPefylDd1OLA~nfJomBoMylGcPaCK-KzQhzDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, witnesses described an evolving landscape of financial exploitation that increasingly uses cryptocurrency, AI-generated voices and deepfakes to target older adults.
Nelson Bunn, executive director of the National District Attorneys Association, told the committee that digital scams have grown sharply and prosecutors must have flexible tools to keep pace. “One of the most prevalent means to exploit older adults is through financial scams,” Bunn said, adding that the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reported large annual losses to elder-targeted scams.
Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Guard Act—short for Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception—and said it would give law enforcement “the tools and flexibility it needs to combat financial fraud and abuse in the modern age.” Several witnesses, including Sean Vosco, AARP Oklahoma State Director, and Bunn, expressed support for the bill and said local training and specialized task forces are key.
Witnesses and senators cited specific threats and case examples. Bunn noted a recent indictment of Chinese nationals accused of a large-scale pop-up computer scam and said more than 50 victims across 19 states lost more than $10,000,000 in that matter. Ranking Member Gillibrand and AARP witnesses said older Americans lost about $2,800,000,000 to cryptocurrency fraud in 2024, and speakers warned that new AI-driven techniques are expanding the reach and plausibility of scams.
Senators asked whether banks, credit unions and technology platforms are doing enough. Panelists urged more proactive monitoring by financial institutions—many already use machine-learning tools to flag unusual transactions—and greater public education, including programs that train bank employees and bank tellers to recognize exploitation. “Many times that teller and those bank employees know those individuals they go to,” Sean Vosco said, referring to AARP’s BankSafe education program.
Discussion vs. decisions: The committee hearing featured policy recommendations and bipartisan support for the Guard Act but recorded no formal legislative vote. Witnesses recommended expanded training for law enforcement, better information sharing across jurisdictions and tighter oversight of cryptocurrency ATMs and platforms.
Ending: Senators and witnesses emphasized public education, cross-jurisdictional task forces and updated law-enforcement tools as short-term priorities while urging lawmakers to pass legislation such as the Guard Act to strengthen long-term enforcement capacity.","Prosecutors, AARP and advocates warned senators about rising cryptocurrency, AI and deepfake scams targeting older adults and backed the Guard Act, a bipartisan bill intended to strengthen local law enforcement tools and training to combat modern financial fraud.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6141037,"Senate witnesses urge timely reauthorization and sustained funding for Older Americans Act, warn against dismantling ACL",4042,1251000,5293000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1&start=1251&end=5293","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576535-9eeda0f45027d9d4eaa6236388fd38a1/thumbnail_1251000.jpg","/articles/6141037/Senate-witnesses-urge-timely-reauthorization-and-sustained-funding-for-Older-Americans-Act-warn-against-dismantling-ACL","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141037-bf7d650e1919d1df41ba9ed42bb21d49/orig.mp4?Expires=1770490828&Signature=AjWOrL8rfrwZd-PFao0qp5wjKkoC8QMpefAqDzwZyiJiHRnMyOB7Kb~no0p0WrQWRh-oqKmaCx3wGvm3uoz4YnjzAjkkwDy7XrAzx8FgKq1hTWsrlfZcphHNi9Ard1t~h2JaepYMT9vz8TUUtndN~fGEM87~vw3K2Mlfy3p0euLfUmdk0Ci6XouWgReqc87kuTgbuF6wu3kIGMTMI4WnPA86d5ADjh-4CTOHXwC7mEkRjdeT~snj2fyLdHYeG~UgLdQdAwX4A-aIBv5P9oKh8ymbk9eJ2YMIILhEKGbIBT3BNBbvJ4B7DtRilpRW5xWJzF~8PNAiRUMpXYE~v~Bl7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Rick Scott convened the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing to examine elder abuse, and witnesses urged Congress to finish reauthorizing the Older Americans Act and to preserve the Administration for Community Living.
Marcela Morado, president and CEO of the Southwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, told the committee the OAA is a “critical tool” for preventing abuse, connecting vulnerable seniors to services and building the trusted relationships that lead to reporting and intervention. “For 60 years, the Older Americans Act, known as the OAA, has helped countless seniors through social connection and life-affirming support programs,” Morado said.
The hearing’s witnesses described programs funded by the OAA—home-delivered meals, caregiver supports, legal assistance and the long-term care ombudsman—as frontline protections that reduce isolation and create “sets of eyes” that detect abuse. “Interactions like those had with an in-home meal delivery services provider are sometimes the only contact a senior may have with someone who can recognize signs of abuse or neglect,” Morado said.
Lori Smetanka, executive director of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, told senators that ombudsman and elder-justice programs require more stable federal investment. “Federal funding for the program is necessary to ensure that all residents have access to an advocate,” Smetanka said, noting increased complaints and persistent deficiencies in nursing facilities.
Panelists warned of the practical consequences of reducing or dismantling ACL. Morado said ACL’s consolidation of aging and disability programs “became the hub” that coordinated services and preserved institutional knowledge; dismantling it would risk losing expertise and program continuity. “We’re really concerned that if the ACL is dismantled, that it will get lost in the shuffle,” she said.
Why it matters: Witnesses and several senators tied prevention and early detection of elder abuse to the continuity of OAA-funded services and ACL’s coordination role. Speakers repeatedly urged Congress to complete reauthorization this fall and to increase funding so area agencies on aging and ombudsman programs can expand prevention, outreach and response.
Discussion vs. decisions: The hearing produced recommendations and policy requests but no formal committee actions. Witnesses recommended reauthorization of the OAA, increased federal funding for elder-abuse prevention and preserving ACL as a standalone coordinating agency. Senators expressed support for these steps and asked witnesses for examples and program details.
Closing note: Witnesses asked lawmakers to treat the reauthorization as urgent and to preserve the federal infrastructure that supports the aging network. “We need your partnership, your commitment to ensuring that every older adult can age with dignity and safety,” Morado said.","Witnesses at the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing said reauthorizing and adequately funding the Older Americans Act (OAA) and preserving the Administration for Community Living (ACL) are crucial to preventing elder abuse and supporting services that keep older adults safe and connected.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Witnesses call for stronger guardianship reform, research and data collection to prevent abuse and preserve rights

Advocates press senators to boost oversight, staffing and financial transparency in nursing facilities

Area agencies on aging tell Senate their programs find and prevent elder abuse through meals, case management and local trust

Senate hearing spotlights rising financial exploitation of older adults; Guard Act and tech-driven scams central to discussion

Senate witnesses urge timely reauthorization and sustained funding for Older Americans Act, warn against dismantling ACL