Elmhurst Lawmaker Targets Exploitation Of Elderly

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst lawmaker's bill to further protect the elderly and nursing home residents from exploitation passed the state House last week.

Rep. Jenn Ladisch Douglass' bill makes financial exploitation a Class 1 felony if the victim is 70 or older and the value of the property is $15,000 or more. The threshold is now $50,000.

The Democrat's legislation also ensures that all residents of nursing homes, not just the elderly and people with disabilities, are covered by the law addressing abuse and criminal neglect in such facilities.

"This bill provides common sense solutions to potentially life-threatening problems, improving the safety of long-term care facilities and preventing financial exploitation," Ladisch Douglass said in a news release. "The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on existing issues in long-term care facilities, and this bill seeks to right some of those wrongs."

The supporters of the bill included the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Illinois Sheriffs Association, the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office and the Health Care Council of Illinois.

The bill passed the House unanimously. Now, it heads to the Senate.