[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 77 (Thursday, June 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5946-S5947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of World Elder 
Abuse Awareness Day. As ranking member on the Special Committee on 
Aging, I am pleased that the international community has designated 
this day. It is important to recognize the grim reality of elder abuse, 
neglect, and exploitation and focus on

[[Page S5947]]

what we can do to end these horrible crimes.
  In the past 40 years, our Nation has struggled to address some of our 
society's worst ills: child abuse and domestic violence. Now we must 
confront elder abuse.
  For the past 25 years, Congress has held hearings on the devastating 
effects of elder abuse, yet we have taken no comprehensive action. 
Abuse of the elderly is nothing new, but as our Nation has aged and the 
baby boom generation stands on the cusp of retirement, the prevalence 
of elder abuse will only get worse. The time to act is now. We can no 
longer ignore or tolerate the shame and scandal of abuse, neglect, and 
exploitation of our Nation's seniors.
  I have long made ending elder abuse a top priority. I worked hard to 
develop a national criminal background check system for nursing home, 
home health, and other long-term care employees. While the vast 
majority of these employees are diligent, dedicated, and professional, 
it is too easy for people with abusive and criminal backgrounds to find 
work in long-term care. This is unacceptable. Today, seven States, 
including my home State of Wisconsin, are engaged in a pilot project 
based on my legislation which requires long-term care employers to run 
FBI criminal background checks on potential employees before they are 
hired and trusted to care for our loved ones. My hope is that upon 
completion of this pilot project, we will move to a national criminal 
background check system and protect seniors in all 50 States.
  I am also a proud original cosponsor of the Elder Justice Act, which 
takes a number of steps to prevent and treat elder abuse. It will 
improve prevention and intervention by funding State and local projects 
that keep older Americans safe. It will ensure that health officials, 
social services, law enforcement, long-term care facilities, consumer 
advocates, and families are all working together to confront this 
problem; and, it will establish training programs so health 
professionals in both forensic pathology and geriatrics can better 
detect elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
  Finally, the bill will establish victim assistance programs, create 
``safe havens'' for seniors in dangerous living situations, and help 
train law enforcement officers to prioritize and investigate cases of 
elder abuse.
  Researchers have warned us that the reported cases of elder abuse 
might only be the tip of the iceberg; that is why World Elder Abuse 
Awareness Day is so important. We must spread the word: elder abuse, 
neglect, and exploitation is occurring every day and, if left 
unchecked, will only grow more prevalent. As I continue my efforts here 
in the Senate, I encourage my colleagues and Americans everywhere to 
join me in putting an end to this terrible scourge of elder abuse.

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