Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Page S3625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I call my colleagues' attention to an
issue that has affected many families in Iowa and throughout the
country. That issue is elder abuse and neglect of those same people.
Many older Americans reside in assisted care facilities, nursing
homes, and all kinds of group living arrangements. It is critical that
these care facilities and the staff at the facilities not only follow
the law but provide the type of care they would want their own family
members to receive.
The Des Moines Register last year published reports suggesting a
troubling lack of compassionate care for elderly residents in some of
the nursing homes in my State. We also had other reports surfacing in
2017 of nursing home workers in at least 18 different facilities taking
humiliating and unauthorized photos of elderly residents and posting
them on social media websites.
Earlier this year, I convened an oversight hearing in which we heard
from the daughters of two elderly women who resided in a federally
funded nursing home. One testified that her mother, an Iowan, died due
to neglect in a facility that held the highest possible rating--a five-
star rating--on a Federal Government website. The family discovered
that the nursing home was the subject of multiple complaint
investigations related to those complaints in recent years. Yet, after
each complaint, government inspectors reported the facility had come
back ``into substantial compliance with program requirements.''
At this same hearing, another witness from another State testified
about her mother's rape in a nursing home.
These and similar cases around the country point to the need for
reform. By one estimate, 1 in 10 persons older than the age of 60 will
fall victim to elder abuse each year.
According to the inspector general at the Department of Health and
Human Services, one-third of nursing home residents may experience harm
while under the care of these facilities. In more than half of these
cases, the harm was preventable. That is why statutes like the Elder
Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, which I championed in the last
Congress; also the Older Americans Act, which promotes seniors'
independence; and the Elder Justice Act, which I have long supported,
are all very important pieces of legislation.
On Monday, I introduced a resolution designating June 15 as World
Elder Abuse Awareness Day. I would like to thank my lead cosponsor,
Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut, for joining me in introducing this
legislation. The ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, as
well as the leaders of Senate Aging Committee, Senators Collins and
Casey, along with Senators Lankford and Hassan, also are original
cosponsors. I thank all of them for doing that.
This bipartisan resolution recognizes those adult protective services
and healthcare personnel, ombudsmen, criminal justice personnel, and
advocates who help prevent and combat elder abuse in communities all
around our country.
It calls for us to promote awareness and long-term prevention of
elder abuse. Congress has a very key role to play in ensuring the
protections of seniors, not only in the passing of legislation but in
our constitutional oversight role to make sure the executive branch of
government faithfully executes those laws. In faithfully executing our
laws in spirit as well as in the legalese, they will be helping us
prevent elder abuse.
Years ago, I joined my colleagues in developing an earlier version of
the Elder Justice Act. It is time to update and extend the key programs
authorized under this important law, which authorized the Elder Justice
Coordinating Council and also authorized resources to support forensic
centers to investigate elder abuse, among other initiatives in that
important legislation. I am working closely with the members of the
Elder Justice Coalition on legislation to accomplish that goal.
It is also time for us to update and extend the Older Americans Act,
which I have long supported.
As Finance Committee chairman, I intend to convene a hearing to
discuss ways that we can continue to promote the health and well-being
of our seniors, which is an issue I have cared about for a long time.
Creating a supportive, inclusive environment in our communities is
essential to preventing elder abuse, and that is what the World Elder
Abuse Awareness Day is all about.
I urge my colleagues to join me in raising awareness for the most
vulnerable among us, protecting our loved ones and protecting people we
don't know, but in the process of our doing that, we empower all
citizens to take a stand against elder abuse.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________
