Colorado takes an important step forward in the prevention and detection of elder abuse on July 1, when the law for mandatory reporting of abuse of at-risk elders goes into effect fully. We believe that public awareness is important in dealing with this serious issue.
Senate Bill 13-111, Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse is the first major change to the law regarding the treatment of at-risk elders in Colorado since 1991. Before this legislation was passed, the state only had voluntary reporting. During the years from 1991 to the present, the media was focused more on child abuse. The time has come for abuse of seniors to get the same recognition as children.
This mandatory reporting law helps a large segment of the Colorado population. With the aging of the Baby Boomers, this population continues to grow. There is a growing need to get this information about mandatory reporting of abuse and financial exploitation out to the general public. Recently, there has been a huge surge in the number of seniors who are the victims of financial exploitation. Mandatory reporting helps not only the elderly, but also their family and friends.
This information helps seniors realize that any abuse or financial exploitation must be reported by any professionals interacting with them. It puts abusers on notice that their actions will no longer be tolerated. The Colorado Senior Lobby, other organizations serving seniors, and several Colorado agencies including law enforcement, welcome media coverage to aid them in their duties and responsibilities, as elder abuse needs to be brought to the public’s attention.