What is the Elder Care Act?

The Affordable Care Act encompasses several actions to help senior citizens obtain quality health care, live independently and be more active in care decisions. The Elder Justice Act which provides protection for seniors in long-term care facilities is encompassed within this act.

Grants for Senior Service Organizations

• The act provides grants to senior service organizations to better provide counseling a better understanding of, and access to, their care options, insurance and medicare benefits, and available community services. The goal of these services is to help seniors transition to care facilities or continue to live independently.

Medicare and Insurance Reforms

• Under the act, seniors pay less for prescription drugs, have access to free preventive care and a voluntary, long-term care insurance program. The act also works to fight Medicare fraud and abuse and increase the quality of care in, and after, hospitalization.

The Elder Justice Act

• The Elder Justice Act fights against abuses and neglect of seniors in long-term service care facilities. It enforces violation reporting, staff training and background checks, and standardizes means of reporting violations. Seniors, or those acting on their behalf, have means to file complaints and facilities have increased accountability.