Senior Citizen Rights
19.3% of AppalReD’s clients are over the age of 60
AppalReD has a keen interest in attacking Elder Abuse at every level. AppalReD has taken the initiative and gained a
reputation for stopping nursing homes in their tracks when they try to illegally discharge residents in violation of the
Kentucky Nursing Home Rights Act. AppalReD has benefited from associations with AARP, the National Senior Law Center, the National
Citizen’s Coalition for Nursing Home Rights, and Kentuckians for Nursing Home Reform in its efforts. Elderly nursing home residents
who have contacted AppalReD when they were illegally discharged have recently been returned to their “homes†at the nursing facilities
in short order. Without AppalReD, many residents would have been “dumped†at local hospitals, mental institutions, or on families
that do not have the ability to care for them.
AppalReD has become intrinsically involved with Kentucky Transitions and has helped several clients move from an institutionalized
setting back to their homes under the Money Follows the Person Program. Kentucky was granted $49 million by Congress to facilitate
such moves for Medicaid recipients. AppalReD immediately identified clients who could benefit from the program and recommended them
to Kentucky Transitions.
AppalReD represents the elderly population in a wide range of legal issues. Predatory lenders often target
the elderly, who have significant equity in their homes. AppalReD often represents the victims of such abusive
practices. AppalReD has also teamed with the Council for Elder Maltreatment Prevention (CEMP), which was
organized to develop and facilitate a community-wide system of prevention, intervention and awareness of elder
and vulnerable adult maltreatment. Representatives from AppalReD serve on the Council. CEMP educates the
population on elder abuse and encourages citizens to report maltreatment of the elderly.