After Two Years of Hard Work, Stronger Anti-Elder Abuse Laws will be Heard Before the 36th Legislature on September 19th

boonchai wedmakawand/Getty Images

On Friday, September 19th, 2025, AARP Virgin Islands State Director Troy De Chabert-Schuster, is set to testify before the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands in support of amendments to the territory’s Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act (Bill 36-0099).

The proposed amendments would:

• Establish an Anti-Elder Abuse Task Force to coordinate prevention and response across
agencies.

• Establishes an effective monitoring system to track elder abuse cases or maltreatment of older adults and adults with disabilities in the Virgin Islands.

• Create the territory’s first Elder Abuse Registry, tracking individuals found to have abused, neglected, or exploited older or dependent adults.

• Mandate training for law enforcement and service providers to identify, prevent, and
respond to elder abuse.

• Require that employers of programs that are licensed providers to the elderly to check
prospective staff and volunteers against the abuse registry and national databases
before hiring.

• Form a Multi-Disciplinary Protection team to improve information sharing and establish
best practices.

Elder abuse is a serious issue affecting millions of Americans, including older Virgin Islanders. The World Health Organization defines elder abuse as a violation of human rights and a significant cause of illness, injury, loss of productivity, isolation, and despair. To address this public health problem, it requires immediate actions to raise public awareness and effectively implement legislative solutions. At a time when, the Virgin Islands is experiencing rapid growth in the elderly population, ensuring their safety and wellbeing is paramount.

To address this issue, AARP convened a working group of stakeholders from government
agencies, private sector leaders, advocates, and the community to assess the current law. The group’s findings helped shape the amendments that are set to be heard at the committee hearing.

As AARP VI heads toward the finish line on Bill 36-0099, they know the race for elder protection is not over yet. AARP VI is asking the public for their support. “Change can only happen when we work together as a community,” stated De Chabert-Schuster, “We are asking our fellow Virgin Islanders to call and email our Senators and tell them that they support amendments to Bill 36-0099.”