[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 88 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 492--DESIGNATING JUNE 15, 2012, AS ``WORLD ELDER 
                         ABUSE AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Nelson of 
Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 492

       Whereas at least 2,000,000 older adults are maltreated each 
     year in the United States;
       Whereas the vast majority of the abuse, neglect, and 
     exploitation of older adults in the United States goes 
     unidentified and unreported;
       Whereas only 1 in 44 cases of financial abuse of older 
     adults is reported;
       Whereas at least $2,900,000,000 is taken from older adults 
     each year due to financial abuse and exploitation;
       Whereas elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation have no 
     boundaries and cross all racial, social, class, gender, and 
     geographic lines;
       Whereas older adults who are abused are 3 times more likely 
     to die earlier than older adults of the same age who are not 
     abused;
       Whereas the percentage of individuals in the United States 
     who are 60 years of age or older will nearly double by 2020;
       Whereas, although all 50 States have laws against elder 
     abuse, incidents of elder abuse have increased by 150 percent 
     over the last 10 years;
       Whereas public awareness has the potential to 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 private individuals and public agencies must work 
     to combat crime and violence against older adults and 
     vulnerable adults, particularly in light of continued 
     reductions in funding for vital services: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 15, 2012 as ``World Elder Abuse 
     Awareness Day'';
       (2) recognizes judges, lawyers, adult protective services 
     professionals, law enforcement officers, social workers, 
     health care providers, victims' advocates, and other 
     professionals and agencies for their efforts to advance 
     awareness of elder abuse; and
       (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 by reaching 
     out to local adult protective services agencies and by 
     learning to recognize, report, and respond to elder abuse.

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