USDA Working To Combat Elder Abuse

While issues of elder abuse and exploitation are concerns across America, the Deputy Agriculture Secretary says rural senior citizens face greater vulnerability.

"On average, rural Americans are older than those that live in urban areas, they usually have less housing options, they are more reliant on others to provide transportation, there's not as wide a range of services available to them when they're in rural areas. So, each of those really increases the vulnerability of rural Americans-- more vulnerable to abuse and to scams as well."

Which, Deputy Secretary Steven Senske said is why USDA and the justice department are forming a working group to focus on addressing these issues, culminating in a strategic plan for presentation at a DOJ Rural Elder Justice Summit this November.

"What really is amping up, if you will, the kinds of cooperation and resources that are available."

That summit will be held in Des Moines, Iowa.