[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 115 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 32359-32360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13019]



[[Page 32357]]

Vol. 86

Thursday,

No. 115

June 17, 2021

Part III





The President





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Proclamation 10228--World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2021
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  Federal Register / Vol. 86 , No. 115 / Thursday, June 17, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

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                Proclamation 10228 of June 14, 2021

                
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2021

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Older Americans make invaluable contributions to our 
                families, our communities, and our Nation every day. 
                But for far too many, the sacred promise of aging with 
                dignity in America is broken by unconscionable 
                incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. On World 
                Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Americans of all ages join 
                the international community to raise awareness and help 
                bring an end to elder abuse.

                Elder abuse can take many forms, including financial, 
                emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, as well as 
                exploitation and neglect. Every year, one in ten 
                Americans aged 60 and older experiences abuse--and for 
                every case of elder abuse that comes to the attention 
                of authorities, it is estimated that 23 cases are never 
                brought to light. Since the start of the COVID-19 
                pandemic, we have also seen a chilling increase in hate 
                crimes targeting Asian-Americans, many of whom have 
                been elders. These attacks are shameful and deeply un-
                American.

                Central to our Nation is the idea that we are all in 
                this together, and that as Americans we owe one another 
                a basic duty of care. The pandemic has both reinforced 
                the importance of that duty and tested our capacity to 
                meet it--the virus has exacerbated the quiet harm of 
                social isolation among seniors around the world, a 
                condition that makes abuse, neglect, and exploitation 
                more likely. Having lost so many cherished seniors to 
                this virus, we must recommit ourselves to fully 
                including older Americans in our communities and 
                systems of support. We must care for one another--and 
                leave no one behind.

                With over three-quarters of Americans 65 and over now 
                fully vaccinated and more progress being made every 
                day, the future for seniors is growing brighter and 
                brighter. After a painful year, grandparents around the 
                world are hugging their grandchildren again. Vaccinated 
                seniors who were socially isolated are able to reengage 
                with the broader community again. And as we begin to 
                build back better, we are working to ensure that older 
                Americans have greater opportunities to live with 
                dignity, safety, independence, and social connections.

                My Administration is committed to fulfilling that 
                promise. That's why the American Rescue Plan included 
                more than $1.4 billion in additional funding for 
                programs that promote community living and ensure the 
                safety and protection of older adults. The law also 
                enhances the Elder Justice Act and ensures that Adult 
                Protective Services can be used to protect the safety 
                and dignity of all seniors. Additionally, the plan 
                included new Medicaid funding to expand access to 
                critical home and community-based health care services, 
                and over $275 million for elder justice programs that 
                address abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The American 
                Jobs Plan and American Families Plan will further that 
                progress, building up the care infrastructure that our 
                economy and so many families depend on--expanding day 
                programs for seniors, programs that bring care workers 
                to seniors' homes to cook meals, and programs to help 
                seniors get around their home safely and live more 
                independently.

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                As we expand opportunities for older Americans, my 
                Administration will also not tolerate elder abuse or 
                hate in any form. I have instructed agencies across the 
                Federal Government to do their part to combat elder 
                abuse and support survivors. We are working to renew 
                and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act, which 
                also dedicates Federal funds to develop a more 
                comprehensive approach to addressing abuse and neglect 
                in later life, including through the funding of victim 
                service providers, law enforcement, and prosecutors 
                working to prevent and respond to domestic violence, 
                sexual assault, and stalking experienced by older 
                adults, whether caused by a spouse, family member, 
                caregiver, or others. And this year, for the first 
                time, the Federal Government has provided funding to 
                Adult Protective Services programs in every State and 
                Territory to support their critical, on-the-ground work 
                investigating abuse and connecting victims to 
                resources.

                During World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we also 
                recognize the individuals who dedicate themselves to 
                preventing elder abuse. All across our Nation, 
                caregivers work to help older adults stay connected to 
                their communities while preventing elder abuse and 
                intervening if it occurs. These unsung heroes include 
                family members, Adult Protective Services workers, 
                social service providers, nonprofit victim services 
                organizations, long-term care ombudspersons, law 
                enforcement officers, judges and judicial personnel, 
                legal professionals, health care professionals, and 
                financial professionals.

                On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we stand with all 
                older Americans, and elderly people around the world, 
                who are victims of elder abuse, neglect, and financial 
                exploitation, and we recommit ourselves to protecting 
                every senior's right to live their golden years with 
                dignity and respect.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 15, 2021, 
                as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. I call upon all 
                Americans to work for elder justice by building 
                inclusive communities that welcome people of all ages 
                and abilities; by learning the warning signs of elder 
                abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and by challenging 
                age-related biases.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                fifth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2021-13019
Filed 6-16-21; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P