# Beshear announces $2.3M in federal funds for elder protection services  
**Published:** 2022-06-15T22:24:30.000Z  
**Source:** [KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=CHFS&prId=318)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/beshear-announces-2-3m-in-federal-funds-for-elder-protection-services

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear announced over $2.3 million in federal funding to strengthen protections for older Kentuckians and individuals with disabilities from abuse and neglect, [according to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=CHFS&prId=318).

[The Administration for Community Living awarded $2.1 million to Adult Protective Services](https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dail/Pages/ltcomb.aspx) and $238,000 to the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The grants will enhance the capacity of state agencies to respond to and investigate complaints about abuse, neglect and exploitation in long-term care settings.

"Everyone deserves the opportunity to reside safely at home, in their communities and with their loved ones," Beshear said in a statement. "This grant funding will allow us to build an even stronger state, one where those most susceptible to abuse receive help."

The programs will use the funding to hire additional staff and recruit and train volunteers to conduct facility visits and investigate complaints from residents. [The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program currently relies on trained volunteer ombudsmen who regularly visit nursing homes, personal care homes and family care homes](https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dail/Pages/ltcomb.aspx) throughout Kentucky's 120 counties.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services also plans to use the funding to develop resident and family councils and provide educational materials on resident rights and abuse prevention. The Adult Protective Services grant will support initiatives including expanding the availability of elder shelters and emergency housing, establishing elder justice networks at state and local levels, and improving care transitions for vulnerable seniors.

Cabinet Secretary Eric Friedlander emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable populations. "One Kentuckian who suffers abuse, neglect or exploitation is too many," Friedlander said. "All people, regardless of age or disability, should be able to live independently and participate fully in their communities."

The Department for Community Based Services and the Department for Aging and Independent Living will coordinate the initiative as part of broader efforts to ensure safe conditions in long-term care facilities across the state.

## Sources

- [KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=CHFS&prId=318)
- [Information about the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program and volunteer structure](https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dail/Pages/ltcomb.aspx)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=CHFS&prId=318.