[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 15, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H4194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Buerkle) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the issue 
of elder abuse. Today is Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Hundreds of 
thousands of Americans each year are the victims of elder abuse. 
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, this number could be 
as high as 1 to 2 million Americans.
  Elder abuse, Mr. Speaker, is a broad term for the victimization of 
seniors 65 years and older. There is no one picture of what elder abuse 
looks like. It can be physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional 
abuse or exploitation.
  The perpetration of elder abuse also varies--spouses, partners, 
caregivers in nursing homes, even neighbors. Our older elder Americans 
are especially vulnerable to abuse, particularly those who suffer from 
dementia or other mental diseases.
  I find it unconscionable that the very people who fought for us in 
World War II and Korea, who nurtured us, who taught us, who built this 
society around us, would be victimized in the twilight of their lives. 
Our elderly citizens have given us so much, and they deserve our 
appreciation, our respect, and most importantly, our protection, not 
just for what they've contributed, Mr. Speaker, but for the ways they 
still enrich our society and enrich us as a people.
  This August my mother, Mr. Speaker, will turn 90 years old. Three 
years ago, when my father died, she was lost. She was particularly 
vulnerable. Fortunately for my mother, she has children, grandchildren 
and great-grandchildren to help her and to support her. But how many 
other Americans, elderly folks are out there who don't have that 
support system, Mr. Speaker?
  This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue. This is an American 
issue. Our seniors, our elderly, deserve our help. They deserve our 
protection. Please, as Americans, today is Elder Abuse Awareness Day. 
Let us be particularly aware of our most vulnerable, our elderly 
citizens.

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