04/04/2011 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

               HCR  3-SENIOR CITIZEN PROTECTIONS                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DAVIS announced the next order of business would be HCR 3.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:43:22 PM                                                                                                                    
KENDRA KLOSTER,  staff to Representative Cathy  Muñoz, said there                                                               
is a  devastating problem of  rising elder abuse in  Alaska. Over                                                               
the past  four years, Adult  Protective Services has  received an                                                               
alarming  169  percent  increase  in the  reports  of  harm.  The                                                               
Ombudsman  Office for  Long-term  Care has  seen a  corresponding                                                               
increase in the reports of harm  at 200 percent in the past three                                                               
years. It  is important to  bring this  issue to light.  The most                                                               
common   allegations    are   self-neglect,    abuse,   financial                                                               
exploitation,  and neglect.  Two amendments  were adopted  during                                                               
the process.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:44:58 PM                                                                                                                    
DENISE DANIELLO, Executive Director,  Alaska Commission on Aging,                                                               
thanked the  committee for hearing  the resolution. It  speaks to                                                               
the rise of  elder abuse in our state. Data  shows that about one                                                               
in ten older  adults in our country is at  risk for mistreatment.                                                               
The rate of abuse is rising in Alaska.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Elder   abuse  can   take   many   forms:  physical,   financial,                                                               
abandonment, self-neglect. Often an  older person is reluctant to                                                               
report. There  is an element  of embarrassment and  shame. Elders                                                               
who are  at risk  for abuse includes  those with  Alzheimer's and                                                               
related dementia,  people with cognitive impairments,  and people                                                               
who are bed-ridden.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:47:11 PM                                                                                                                    
Some  people  may   not  recognize  the  signs   of  abuse.  This                                                               
resolution aims for  increased awareness. We need  to educate the                                                               
public  to the  signs  of abuse  and how  to  report. The  Alaska                                                               
Commission  on Aging  recommends  passage of  this resolution  to                                                               
improve recognition  of signs of  abuse and better  response from                                                               
caregivers, agencies,  and first responders.  There is a  cost to                                                               
the state but  also to the person whose  independence and dignity                                                               
are compromised.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:49:14 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DAVIS said  it is a great piece of  legislation. Alaska has                                                               
the fastest growing  population of the oldest old,  those who are                                                               
85 and  older. It is  a problem because a  lot of them  depend on                                                               
family members  to care for  them. Sometimes families  need help.                                                               
Awareness is  the key.  She asked if  the resolution  referred to                                                               
anyone over 65.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. DANIELLO responded it is 60 and  over. There is also a lot of                                                               
abuse directed toward  vulnerable adults. She said  at some point                                                               
we need to expand the scope.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DAVIS asked does it refer to the month of November.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. DANIELLO  answered it  is just  for education  and awareness,                                                               
and  does not  name  a  specific month.  It  would encourage  the                                                               
public to report abuse.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MEYER  asked why there are  no letters of support  in the                                                               
file, and why no one from AARP testified.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. KLOSTER said she was not sure why AARP didn't come.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  MEYER  asked  if  they have  been  testifying  in  other                                                               
committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. KLOSTER said yes, in the House HSS.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:53:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR EGAN moved to report  CSHCR 3 (HSS)am from committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  attached  fiscal note(s).  There                                                               
being no objection, it was so ordered.