[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2381-E2382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   H.R. 2964, THE OLDER AND DISABLED AMERICANS PROTECTION ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a bill I 
introduced to provide for the review of criminal records of individuals 
who wish to enter into shared housing arrangements with senior citizens 
and disabled persons. H.R. 2964, the Older and Disabled Americans 
Protection Act of 1997, will empower placement organizations with the 
authority to run FBI background checks on potential shared housing 
participants. Many seniors and disabled persons enter into shared 
housing programs which is a popular option for those who wish to remain 
at home, but need that little extra care and comfort to live on their 
own. Shared housing is a nonfee

[[Page E2382]]

homefinder referral service that matches seniors and disabled persons 
with others who wish to share a house, apartment, or mobile home at 
affordable rates. There are more than 350 programs throughout the 
country. Usually, a participant lives in the home of a senior or 
disabled person and provides care in lieu of rent.
  Abuse in shared housing arrangements is on the rise. Most Americans 
do not know that senior citizens and disabled persons are all too often 
being manipulated and abused within the privacy of their own homes. A 
recent article on August 31, 1997, from the Orange County Register 
noted that 4 to 10 percent of Orange County's 350,000 seniors are 
victims of some sort of abuse. During the past 6 months, Adult 
Protective Services in Orange County, CA received 300 calls about 
financial abuse, compared with 70 calls for a similar period a year 
ago. These numbers ring true throughout the county, where abuse reports 
have risen to 2,173 in 1995 from a low of 903 in 1987. Most of these 
acts of abuse are either physical or financial, and unfortunately, many 
more cases often go unreported due to shame and reluctance on the part 
of the victims to report problems.
  I believe that solving this problem of abuse can be done through 
proactive prevention. Currently, there is no national or statewide 
standard operating procedure available to screen shared housing 
participants. Shared housing referral services and senior advocates 
have informed me of their desire to perform criminal background checks 
on those who wish to live with and care for the elderly and disabled 
persons. H.R. 2964 will give these agencies the means necessary to 
protect their clients from abuse. In addition, it would exempt services 
using background checks from any civil liability, so they can focus 
strictly on providing safe living arrangements for seniors. I believe 
this bill will help ensure that our Nation's seniors and disabled 
persons can lead secure, healthy, and dignified lives. I encourage my 
colleagues in Congress to join me in making sure that seniors and 
disabled persons do not become victims.

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