Governance Committee Advances District 5’s Enhancing Senior Protection
Published on January 21, 2026
Governance Committee Advances District 5’s Enhancing Senior Protections Council Consideration Request
SAN ANTONIO (January 21, 2026) – Today, the Governance Committee advanced the Enhancing Senior Protections Council Consideration Request (CCR) filed by District 5 Councilmember Teri Castillo to the Public Safety Subcommittee on Elder Abuse. The request contains a comprehensive list of best practices that can be put into action with the goal of ending the financial abuse of senior residents.
“The fact of the matter is that senior fraud and financial exploitation are increasing while scams are becoming more sophisticated and difficult to identify,” said Councilmember Castillo. “This policy request is about implementing policies to prevent seniors from becoming victims before the damage is done.”
The CCR seeks to strengthen legal and support tools before exploitation occurs by proposing City-sponsored legal aid and a local hotline, giving seniors a trusted place to turn when something feels wrong. It also calls for updating the City’s door-to-door solicitation ordinance to reflect modern scam tactics. It addresses automatic prevention, such as auto-enrolling seniors in protections like Do-Not-Call registries through senior centers, resource fairs, and 3-1-1.
The request proposes partnerships with financial institutions and the FBI to stop scams in real time, emphasizing practical education through simple guides, public service announcements, and City-sponsored “No Soliciting” signage.
“One of our District 5 residents now has a $90,000 lien on their home due to a door-to-door solar panel scam. We continue to receive data and feedback from constituents that tell us clear, swift action is needed,” said Councilmember Castillo. “Moving this CCR forward sends a clear message to our residents that San Antonio will not wait until seniors are harmed to act.”
Following the progress of the CCR, the Elder Abuse Subcommittee is expected to review and develop an implementation plan that will then be reviewed by the broader Public Safety Committee. The City’s Department of Human Services and San Antonio Police Department will continue to provide updates to the Elder Abuse Subcommittee on the enhancement of senior protection initiatives, the Status of Older Adults Report, and collaborative efforts. Staff will continue to research the cost of expanding financial security, fraud education and awareness, and legal assistance community-wide and provide updates to the Public Safety Committee- Elder Abuse Subcommittee.
The District 5 Councilmember is especially grateful to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) for their leadership in crafting programs that serve the needs of senior residents, as well as their continued support on this CCR.