Elder rights

Elder rights are the rights of the aged, who in the United States are not recognized as a constitutionally protected class.[1]

Common rights issues faced by elders include age-related job discrimination (such as forced age of retirement), lack of access to medical treatments because of age or age-related obstacles, societal perceptions of ability/disability due to age,[1] and vulnerability to abuse, including financial, physical, psychological, social, and sexual[2] because of diminished capacity and lack of access to/ability to use technology.[3]

Elder rights movement

The concept of a unique set of needs and rights of the elderly started in 1930s during the Great Depression with the main focus being on the need for a national pension program to provide financial security to the no longer working elderly.[4] Numerous rival plans (the Townsend Plan, the McClain Movement, the Ham and Eggs Movement) were made to address the issue. Eventually, as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, the Social Security Act was passed to meet the need.

As the population aged and the aged grew wealthier throughout the second half of the twentieth century, their political influence increased.[4] Organizations such as the American Association of Retired Persons and government bodies such as the Administration on Aging were created to meet their needs.[5] Issues far beyond simple financial security became the focus -- Maggie Kuhn, angered over her mandatory retirement at 65, launched the Gray Panthers.[6] The National Elder Law Foundation was created out of concern that elderly might have unique legal needs.[7] The 2006 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act included a project called Choices for Independence to develop consumer-directed community-based (as opposed to congregate segregated choices such as traditional nursing homes) long-term care options.[8]

Milestones in elder rights development

Year Event
1920 Civil Service Retirement Act (USA)[9] Retirement system for government employees
1935 Social Security Act (USA)[9] Old Age Assistance/Old Age Survivors Insurance
1958 American Association of Retired Persons founded[10]
1965 Older Americans Act (USA)[9] Established the Administration on Aging
1970 Gray Panthers founded
1970 Age Concern England launched
1974 Age UK created
1994 National Elder Law Foundation founded (USA) [7] Certifies attorneys for elder law practice
1999 International Year of Older Persons[9]
2003 Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (USA)[9]
2003 Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party formed
2010 Affordable Care Act (USA)[9]

Notable elder rights activists

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Kohn, Nina (2010). "The Lawyer's Role in Fostering an Elder Rights Movement" (PDF). William Mitchell Law Review 37: 51. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Your Rights - Elder Abuse". Senior Rights Victoria. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "Protecting Elders' Rights". PBS. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  4. 1 2 Walls, David. "Elders Rights Movement". Sonoma State University. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Pratt, Henry (1976). The Gray Lobby: Politics of Old Age. University of Chicago Press.
  6. ↑ Laursen, Eric. "Gray Panthers". Global Action on Aging. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. 1 2 "About NELF". National Elder Law Foundation. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Elder Rights Background Documents". Global Action on Aging. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Historical Evolution of Programs for Older Americans". US Dept of Health & Human Services. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "AARP History". American Association of Retired Persons. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "Ethel Andrus". National Women's History Museum. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  12. ↑ Barker, Jonathan. "David Hobman:Energetic reformer who changed society's perception of older people". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
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