Abuse in assisted living facilities is a frequent problem in our society (Hamilton). There are several categories of abuse that occur in assisted living facilities: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial abuse. Examples of physical abuse might include hitting or beating older adults with an object or hand, force-feeding them, or pulling their hands. Sexual abuse refers to assisted living facility employees engaging in sexual acts with non-consenting patients. Emotional abuse is when employees say things verbally to torment the patient. Negligence would be the employee failing to care for patients, such as providing hygiene. Abandonment occurs when the patient is left to his own devices. Financial abuse occurs when the patient's family pays for services they were not treated for. “Elder abuse is quickly becoming one of the most important law enforcement tasks of the next century,” said Paul Hodge who investigates crimes against the elderly (Gonzalez). Since abuse occurs in all assisted living facilities, state and federal governments should establish some type of punishment such as sending employees to prison. Ways to prevent elder abuse are inspecting employees' criminal backgrounds, trained personnel, reporting accidents, surveillance of areas. that do not impact patient privacy, promotion of continuous family visits and staff shortages. Elder abuse should be a crime made into law. Once someone commits the act of abusing an elder, they should be taken into custody to be taken to prison. Elder abuse is crucial and people should understand that they are human beings. Financial abuse is one of the worst abuses in assisted living facilities. Everything... at the center of the newspaper... citizens, staff and patients' families (Hamilton). A bill needs to be mandatory and taken seriously to end abuse in assisted living facilities. As a result, there are abuses that constantly occur in assisted living facilities. Because abuse occurs in all assisted living facilities, state and federal governments should establish rules to inspect employees' criminal records, monitor areas that do not affect patient privacy, and promote family visits. People need to realize that seniors have emotions like everyone else, they should not be mistreated in an assisted living facility. Instead, they should get help and enjoy the life they have until it's time to leave. If these people consistently abuse the elderly, law enforcement should arrest the employees. The employees are expected to serve life sentences.