In Henrico, Miyares announces creation of Elder Abuse Investigation Center
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In an effort to address the growing issue of elder abuse and neglect, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares' office Monday announced the creation of the Elder Abuse Investigation Center.
During a press conference at the Shady Grove Family YMCA in Henrico's West End, Miyares said that the center will be a specialized unit designed to streamline collaboration among Central Virginia jurisdictions to investigate and prosecute elder abuse cases in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and private residences. The unit will investigate and prosecute physical assaults, neglect, sexual assaults, violent crimes, and suspicious deaths.
The initiative will include a coalition of law enforcement agencies, commonwealth’s attorneys, and elder advocates from Henrico, Richmond, Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, Hopewell, Hanover, Powhatan, Goochland and possibly other localities, Miyares said.
“This year marks the beginning of the largest surge of Americans turning 65 in our nation’s history," said Miyares. "By 2050, nearly one-quarter of the American population will be 65 or older. As our population ages, rates of elder abuse are expected to rise, but my office is proactively confronting this head-on. This new Elder Abuse Investigation Center represents a major step forward in my commitment to protect Virginia’s senior citizens and vulnerable adults. Virginia will remain at the national forefront of the fight against elder abuse.”
The creation of the center is part of an effort to combat the rising number of elder abuse cases. Statistics show that one in 10 Americans 65 or older have been victims of some form of elder abuse but only one in 24 cases are reported to authorities.
