The Elder Justice Act

The Elder Justice Act (a part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010) focuses on the development of a comprehensive mechanism to "prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation." Elements of the Act that offer opportunities for nurses to demonstrate their advocacy role on behalf of older adults include (a) participating in the training of ombudsmen and/or becoming an ombudsman; (b) serving on the Elder Justice Act's Advisory Board on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation; (c) working in either a stationary or mobile forensic center dedicated to addressing elder abuse; (d) having an active role in the curriculum design and implementation of degree and certificate programs to build competency in gerontology and gerontological nursing; and (e) providing consultation to long-term care facilities in the areas of staff recruitment and quality of care.