Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said Thursday he will help lead a national bipartisan effort to stop abuse of older Americans.
Carr said he will join Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt in leading a bipartisan working group for the National Association of Attorneys General. The goal will be strengthening nationwide actions to combat elder abuse. Schmidt is the current president of the group.
"The abuse, neglect, and exploitation of at-risk and older citizens is a tragic and evolving issue that is plaguing, not only Georgia, but our entire country," Carr said in a news release Thursday. He added that, when he learned of Schmidt's intentions for the working group, he was eager to join the effort. "This type of collaborative effort is exactly what we need to create real results, and we look forward to working with our national partners to crack down on this malicious behavior in all its forms," Carr said.
Since taking office in November 2016, Carr has spoken out frequently and participated in training sessions and discussions about combating elder abuse.
Between 1900 and 2010, the number of Americans age 65 and older grew from fewer than 5 million to more than 40 million, Carr said, quoting U.S. Census Bureau statistics. Over the same time, the portion of the population in that age bracket rose from about 3 percent to more than 12 percent. By one estimate, only 1 in every 24 cases of elder abuse is detected or reported. Despite that underreporting, statistically one in every 10 Americans age 65 or older who live at home will become a victim of abuse.
"Elder abuse has been called the silent epidemic of our time," Schmidt said in the same news release. "It is a crime that too often operates in the shadows. But the numbers are staggering and, as the population age 65 and older continues to grow, it is clear that we all need to do more to combat this serious problem."
The working group will be titled "Protecting America's Seniors: Attorneys General United Against Elder Abuse." It will culminate in a NAAG Presidential Initiative Summit that Schmidt will host in Manhattan, Kansas April 17-18, 2018.
Three other state attorneys general will also serve on the working group: Mark Brnovich, R-Arizona, Peter Kilmartin, D-Rhode Island, and Ellen Rosenblum, D-Oregon. Each has led innovative efforts to combat elder abuse in his or her respective state, according to Carr.