Monday, August 21, 2017

Woman's 7-Year Quest For 'Peggy's Law' On Elder Abuse Comes To Fruition

Peggy Marzolla




TRENTON, NJ — Seven years after a 93-year-old Brick Township woman died after what her family was told was the result of slipping on powder in her room at an assisted care living facility, the elder abuse regulations her daughter has campaigned for are finally law.

Peggy's Law (S-1219), named for Peggy Marzolla, who died in 2010, was signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie on Monday. It aims to protect senior citizens in assisted living facilities from abuse by requiring suspected abuse be reported to law enforcement.

"I started to cry I was so happy," said her daughter, Maureen Marzolla-Persi, who has been fighting for passage of Peggy's Law since her mother's death in April 2010. It's taken Hundreds of phone calls and emails pushing, prodding, nagging legislators. She's spent hours spent talking to others whose family members were abused, and testifying before the Legislature. And more calls nagging the governor's office about signing the bill since it was passed by both houses at last on June 29.

It's bittersweet, she admits.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: Brick Patch 

Note: From The G-Man and The G-Man Interviews have done special investigative reports on elder abuse in New York State for nearly two years. The reports were submitted to the offices of the U.S. Attorney General, Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, and a multitude of elected officials at the state and local level. 

To date, none of the offices or elected officials, with the exception of New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr., have responded to the investigations. 

The state of New Jersey has made it abundantly clear that elder abuse is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. From The G-Man urges Governor Cuomo and state and local politicians to take the same position and enforce or introduce new legislation to protect seniors from home health aide and nursing home abuse.   

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