Illinois judge sets forth suggestions to prevent elder abuse

Judge Patrick T. Murphy of the Circuit Court of Cook County has set forth the following recommendations to prevent elder abuse:

• States should enact legislation requiring banks and other financial institutions to report cases of suspected financial abuse.
• Power of attorney statutes need to be strengthened to reduce the likelihood of abuse such as requiring a power of attorney for a principal over age 60 to be signed in front of a judicial officer so the principal’s competency may be evaluated.
• Judges should receive training regarding age-related dementia.
• Special courts should be created to handle cases involving senior citizens.

For more details, see Helen W. Gunnarsson, Stepping up the fight against elder abuse, 96 Ill. B.J. 339 (2008).