Senior citizens, after their retirement, are targets for extortion by those who prey on them with financial scams and commit emotional/physical/mental abuse and neglect. There was legislation passed in 2013 to expand the Elder Abuse and Neglect program, now known as the Adult Protective Services program. 

The elderly become more susceptible as they age and move into retirement homes. Physical abuse may be easy to see, and financial extortion can be traced. However, mental abuse can be challenging to prove. 

Nursing homes are where a large percentage of these issues occur. After retirement, many elderly citizens are forced to lead a modest life with minimal income; many are abandoned by their children, further leading to susceptibility to financial extortion of the little money they do have. 

Being in nursing homes can be a traumatic experience. It can be emotionally troubling not to have family, live with strangers, and be mistreated by the staff, often through negligence. Residents of nursing homes are susceptible to emotional and physical trauma and financial exploitation. Nursing homes must be aware of this potential situation and take responsibility for intervening with their staff. 

The Elder Abuse and Neglect program states if anyone suspects that a person 60 years or older is suspected of being abused, neglected, or exploited by someone (a family member, caregivers, home care staff), it can be reported to the local agency (funded by the Illinois Department on Aging).  

State Senator Rachelle Crowe introduced an initiative to protect the elderly further, denying inheritance to those convicted of assaulting elderly family members, which was signed into law. 

Should Illinois regulate its nursing homes even further to prevent possible elder abuse, or would that be too much government control?