Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.-02) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen medical-legal partnerships that protect seniors and other vulnerable elders from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
“Seniors — like my dad who is over 90 years old — should never face abuse, neglect, or exploitation simply because they don’t know where to turn for help,” said Vindman. “By bringing legal and social services directly to health care providers, this bill helps ensure seniors are protected and treated with dignity. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Garbarino on this effort to reduce elder abuse.”
“Many seniors face legal challenges that directly affect their health, housing, and financial security, yet accessing the right support can be difficult,” said Garbarino. “The Linking Seniors to Needed Legal Services Act strengthens coordination between health and legal providers by supporting medical-legal partnerships that help connect vulnerable seniors with available legal resources. I’m proud to join Congressman Vindman in leading this bipartisan effort to better serve our seniors.”
The Linking Seniors to Needed Legal Services Act would expand medical-legal partnerships — multidisciplinary teams that bring together health care providers, social workers, and legal professionals at a single care site — to ensure seniors can access critical legal and social services where they already receive medical care.
Specifically, this bill would establish a grant program for states to develop, expand, or sustain medical-legal partnerships in healthcare settings. These partnerships would help address unmet social and legal needs that directly impact health outcomes — including housing instability, food insecurity, access to education, and continuity of care.
The legislation would also require states to develop and expand legal assistance hotlines, creating an accessible entry point to identify seniors who could benefit from legal and social services. These hotlines would connect vulnerable seniors with trained professionals who can help combat isolation, neglect, and exploitation before situations escalate.
To support this work, the bill would directly appropriate $125 million per year for four years under the Elder Justice Act. States would report program outcomes to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the Secretary submitting an evaluation and report to Congress every four years to ensure accountability and effectiveness.
BACKGROUND
Studies show that nearly one in ten seniors has experienced some form of abuse, including psychological harm, financial exploitation, or neglect. Too often, these cases go undetected because seniors lack access to the legal and social supports that could intervene early and prevent further harm.
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