MONTPELIER -- The Vermont Senate is considering legislation that will give investigators access to financial and medical records in certain elder abuse cases.
Currently, a relative who has the power of attorney and is being investigated for elder abuse can refuse to turn over records.
In such cases, the senior citizen cannot give investigators with Adult Protective Services access to financial or medical information.
"Unfortunately there are cases of drug diversion or financial exploitation where this becomes a problem," said Barbara Prine, an attorney with Vermont Legal Aid's Senior Law Project.
"There are situations where someone is taking grandma's check book and signing her name, or a caretaker is taking the pain meds of a senior with diminished capacity," Prine said.
It can be hard to prove wrongdoing in these cases, or even launch an investigation without access to medical and financial records, she added.
A bill before the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, S.23, would allow investigators to subpoena relevant documents when the person suspected of exploiting a senior also has power-of-attorney.
Sen. Claire Ayer, D-Addison, chair of Health and Welfare, said her committee will ask for a suspension of the rules in order to vote on the bill next Tuesday.
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New Vermont law will give investigators new power to probe elderly abuse cases