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[Pages S2976-S2977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 621--DESIGNATING JUNE 15, 2020, AS ``WORLD ELDER
ABUSE AWARENESS DAY''
Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Collins, Mr. Wyden,
Mr. Tillis, Mr. Casey, and Ms. Ernst) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 621
Whereas, in 2006, the International Network for the
Prevention of Elder Abuse proclaimed June 15th of each year
as ``World Elder Abuse Awareness Day'';
Whereas approximately 55,000,000 residents of the United
States, or about 1 in every 6 individuals, have attained the
age of 65 on the 15th anniversary of World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day in 2020;
Whereas elder abuse can come in many different forms, often
manifesting as physical, sexual, or psychological abuse,
financial exploitation, neglect, and social media abuse;
Whereas elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation have no
boundaries and cross all racial, social, class, gender, and
geographic lines, according to the Elder Justice Coalition;
Whereas more than 1 in 10 individuals in the United States
over the age of 60 have been subjected to abuse each year,
with many such victims enduring abuse in multiple forms,
according to the American Journal of Public Health;
Whereas most reported cases of abuse, neglect, and
exploitation of older adults take place within private homes,
and approximately 90 percent of the perpetrators in elder
financial exploitation cases are family members or other
trusted individuals, according to the National Adult
Protective Services Association;
Whereas research suggests that elderly individuals in the
United States who experience cognitive impairment, physical
disabilities, and isolation are more likely to become the
victims of abuse than those without disabilities;
Whereas other risk factors for elder abuse can include low
social support, poor physical health, and experience of
previous traumatic events, according to the National Center
on Elder Abuse;
Whereas close to half of elderly individuals who suffer
from dementia will experience abuse during their lifetime,
according to the Department of Justice;
Whereas only a small fraction of elder abuse cases are
reported to the authorities;
Whereas there is a need to increase funding for adult
protective services programs with the capacity to aid
victims, investigate reports of abuse, and actively prevent
future victimization, particularly during the ongoing COVID-
19 pandemic, as the social isolation of elderly individuals
due to stay-at-home orders only increases the risk of abuse
and neglect;
Whereas the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has fueled demand for
programs such as State long-term care ombudsman programs,
which help prevent elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes
and other long-term care facilities, where infection
prevention and control deficiencies pose persistent
challenges;
Whereas 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the passage of
the Elder Justice Act (subtitle H of title VI of Public Law
111-148) and the 3rd anniversary of the passage of the Elder
Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (Public Law 115-70);
Whereas public awareness of elder abuse has the potential
to increase the identification and reporting of this crime by
the public, professionals, and victims, and can act as a
catalyst to promote issue-based education and long-term
prevention; and
Whereas private individuals and public agencies in the
United States must work together at the Federal, State, and
local levels to combat abuse, neglect, exploitation, crime,
and violence against vulnerable adults, including vulnerable
older adults, particularly in light of limited resources for
vital protective services: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates June 15, 2020, as ``World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day'';
(2) recognizes judges, lawyers, adult protective services
professionals, law enforcement officers, State long-term care
ombudsmen, social workers, health care providers,
[[Page S2977]]
advocates for victims, and other professionals and agencies
for their efforts to advance awareness of elder abuse;
(3) encourages members of the public and professionals who
work with older adults to act as catalysts to promote
awareness and long-term prevention of elder abuse--
(A) by reaching out to local adult protective services
agencies, State long-term care ombudsman programs, and the
National Center on Elder Abuse; and
(B) by learning to recognize, detect, report, and respond
to elder abuse; and
(4) encourages those Federal agencies with responsibility
for preventing elder abuse to fully exercise such
responsibilities to protect older adults, whether living in
the community or in long-term care facilities.
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