senate resolution no.62

Senators Wojno, Bizon, Johnson, Bullock, Alexander, Runestad, Victory, McBroom, Irwin, McMorrow, Bayer, Polehanki, Brinks, Moss, Outman, Stamas, Zorn, McCann, Hertel, Ananich, Geiss, LaSata, Horn, Santana, Chang, Hollier, Lauwers, Schmidt, Barrett, Theis, Daley, MacDonald, Bumstead, Nesbitt and VanderWall offered the following resolution:

A resolution to recognize June 15, 2021, as Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Whereas, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was first announced by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and others at the United Nations (UN), on June 15, 2006; and

Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elder abuse is an intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult, often occurring at the hands of a caregiver or a trusted individual; and

Whereas, According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), elder abuse typically takes one of five forms: neglect, physical, psychological and emotional, sexual, or financial abuse; and

Whereas, Elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation have no boundaries and cross all racial, social, class, gender, and geographic lines; and

Whereas, In 2018, there were 52.4 million adults 65 years of age and older in the United States, and by 2040, that number is expected to climb to 80 million, comprising nearly 21 percent of the total population; and

Whereas, Each year, more than 1 in 10 people over the age of 60 are victims of elder abuse. The vast majority of elder abuse cases in the United States go unidentified and under-reported; and

Whereas, Reports of elder abuse are increasing due to several factors, including more people living longer, a rise in isolation among the senior population, and an increase in the amount of wealth seniors have accumulated throughout their life; and

 Whereas, Older adults who have suffered from abuse are more likely to die earlier than older adults that have not; and

 Whereas, Public awareness as well as state and community outreach can increase the identification and reporting of elder abuse by the public, professionals, and victims, and can act as a catalyst to promote issue-based education and long-term prevention; and

Whereas, Members of the public and professionals who work with older adults are encouraged to recognize, detect, report, and respond to elder abuse while also promoting awareness and long-term prevention of elder abuse by reaching out to local adult protective services agencies, long-term care ombudsman programs, the sixteen National Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) across the state, and the NCEA; and

Whereas, Individuals and public agencies must work together at the federal, state, and local levels to combat increasing occurrences of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence against vulnerable older adults, particularly considering the limited resources for vital protective services; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize June 15, 2021, as Elder Abuse Awareness Day; and be it further

Resolved, That we recognize judges, lawyers, adult protective services professionals, law enforcement officers, long-term care ombudsmen, social workers, health care providers, professional guardians, advocates for victims, and other professionals and agencies for their efforts to advance awareness and prevention of elder abuse.