An Act protecting elders from bullying

This Massachusetts bill expands the state's existing elder protection laws to explicitly include bullying alongside physical and financial abuse. It defines bullying as intimidation or harassment that causes fear for safety, covering actions such as physical contact, cyberbullying, and retaliation for reporting. The legislation requires care facilities and housing authorities to report incidents of bullying involving elderly residents to the Department of Housing and Community Development, which will maintain a central database and share quarterly reports with relevant housing managers. By amending multiple sections of Chapter 19A, the bill ensures that bullying is treated with the same legal seriousness as other forms of elder mistreatment in care settings and public housing.