New Federal Elder Justice Action Plan Launched to Protect Seniors

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC), announced the Federal Elder Justice Action Plan, a government-wide strategy to protect older Americans’ rights, strengthen accountability and make help easier to find. 

The organizations also launched the national “Never EVER” campaign that HHS said advances the action plan’s prevention goals by helping people recognize and avoid government and business imposter scams. The action plan builds on the EJCC’s 2014 eight recommendations with measurable steps to prevent harm, disrupt exploitation, hold bad actors accountable and connect older Americans to help. The HHS said financial exploitation, including imposter scams, is one of the many threats the action plan seeks to address.

“ACL is proud to serve as the lead agency coordinating the Elder Justice Coordinating Council and helping bring federal partners together to turn elder justice commitments into actions and resources for older adults, families and caregivers,” said Mary Lazare, principal deputy administrator for the Administration for Community Living. “The Federal Elder Justice Action Plan will expand the EJCC’s work even further by moving awareness into positive outcomes—strengthening prevention and reporting, improving coordination across partner agencies and connecting older adults and caregivers to the wraparound supports they need before lasting harm occurs.”