[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 9, 2009

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important 
work being done in Connecticut to bring attention to the problem of 
elder abuse, and to ask that all of my colleagues join the national 
observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th.
  Older adults are our parents and neighbors and friends--the grown-ups 
who cared for us when we were young and once protected us from harm. 
Now, we can help them live safely and with dignity. Sadly, elder abuse 
and neglect happens all too frequently in America. Elder abuse can be 
financial, sexual, emotional, and neglect; and it is not always 
intentional. It can happen in any kind of home. Sometimes abuse is the 
unintended action of an overwhelmed family member. Sometimes it is out 
of anger. Never is it deserved. Only one out of five cases is ever 
reported, and awareness of the problem is our first line of defense.
  In Connecticut's Third District, The Coalition for the Advocacy, 
Prevention and Elimination of Older Adult Abuse (CAPE), is working to 
bring this hidden crisis into the light. They began a little over a 
year ago with a grant from the National Committee for the Prevention of 
Elder Abuse. CAPE is led by The Center for Elder Abuse Prevention at 
The Jewish Home for the Elderly and the Southwestern Area Agency on 
Aging. Today, the partnership has earned the generous support of The 
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships and many 
local funders including The Fairfield County Community Foundation and 
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. These resources allow The 
Center to help victims who cannot stay at a domestic violence shelter, 
because of physical or cognitive issues that occur in late-life, find a 
safe temporary place to live, where their special needs can be met and 
the healing can begin.
  On June 15th, CAPE will be holding a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 
event at the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield. I commend their 
efforts to ensure that my constituents know how to spot the signs that 
a friend or loved one may be the victim of abuse, and where they can go 
for help. And I encourage my colleagues to contact me to learn more 
about elder abuse and become part of the solution in their communities.
  Again, I commend the work of The Center and CAPE. Ending elder abuse 
begins by making every day World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

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