Task Force Against Senior Abuse (TASA)

The Attorney General's Office coordinates TASA, an advisory board comprised of leadership from the public and private sector that works to enhance the safety and welfare of Arizona senior citizens. It was formed to advise the Attorney General and members in matters related to abuse and exploitation that concern the State’s senior citizens, and encourage community alliances to combat these issues. 

Accomplishments

TASA member agencies have worked to bring about legislation to protect seniors and consumers that include:

• A.R.S. § 36-3295 - allows healthcare providers and first responders to access advance directives and other vital healthcare information through an existing registry established by the Secretary of State, during an emergency.  The legislation represented a groundbreaking critical step toward respecting the end-of-life care wishes of senior citizens in Arizona.
• A.R.S. § 36-144 - requires home care service providers to provide annual disclosures to a consumer and their designated family representative(s).  
• A.R.S. §44-1271 et seq. – added provisions to Arizona's Telephone Solicitation Statute that require sellers of business opportunities to provide potential customers with disclosure documents BEFORE any monies can be accepted from the consumer. This law helps to protect people from being defrauded by business opportunity scams and applies no matter what method the seller uses to solicit the purchase; telephone, internet, mail, or door-to-door sales.

Advocacy and work is focused in the areas of Financial Exploitation, Health and Safety and Public Awareness. Current projects supported by the membership include:

• The BankSafe Initiative, an AARP funded project led by the Area Agency on Aging Region One that will provide comprehensive online training for banking staff to detect and respond to financial exploitation of senior customers.
• The Vulnerable Adult Protocol, a multi-disciplinary protocol under development by the Maricopa Association of Governments, to guide professionals who have contact with elderly or incapacitated adult victims of crime. The protocol will provide consistent guidelines for interagency cooperation in the investigation, prosecution and management of adult abuse and exploitation cases.
• Life Care Planning advocacy and awareness efforts to promote the use of Advance Directives to ensure a senior’s end-of-life wishes are known and honored.
• Junior High School Arts Competition in conjunction with the annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 to create awareness among Arizona youth on the tragedy of elder abuse.

TASA Members