A state advisory committee has recommended Montana direct $645,000 of federal COVID-19 recovery funds to increase efforts to fight exploitation of senior citizens by adding three elder councils to the state and hiring more staff to focus on crimes that hurt the elderly community.
Mark Mattioli, chief of the Office of Consumer Protection and Victim Services within the Montana Department of Justice, told the Montana Health Advisory Commission at its June 24 meeting that his agency has seen the need for such help for years and âfrankly we are relieved you are reviewing it.â
âSenior exploitation can happen in several forms, but in whatever manner it occurs, it is devastating,â Mattioli said. He said such crimes against older people significantly decrease the quality of life of those who are victimized.