2020 -- S 2876

========

LC005447

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY ON JUNE 15, 2020, IN

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senator Cynthia Armour Coyne

     Date Introduced: June 16, 2020

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, The United Nations General Assembly in resolution 66/127, designated

June 15th as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day; and

     WHEREAS, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day represents the one day in the year when

the entire world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on some of our older

generations; and

     WHEREAS, Elder abuse can be defined as "a single, or repeated act, or lack of

appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which

causes harm or distress to an older person”; and

     WHEREAS, Elder abuse can take various forms, such as physical, psychological or

emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. It can also be the result of intentional or unintentional

neglect; and

     WHEREAS, By 2050, more than 20 percent of the world’s population will be 60 years

old or older. Virtually all countries expect to see substantial growth in the number of older

persons, and occurrences of elder abuse can be expected to grow with it; and

     WHEREAS, In the United States, nearly ten percent of Americans age 65 or older,

experience elder abuse each year and the situation has been negatively affected by the world

financial and economic crisis; and

     WHEREAS, Older Americans lose an estimated $2.9 billion or more annually due to

elder financial abuse and exploitation; and

     WHEREAS, The majority of older men and women can continue to make essential

contributions to the functioning of society if adequate guarantees and protections are in place;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby commemorates June 15, 2020, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. We moreover urge

all Rhode Islanders to take this opportunity to learn more about how to protect and nurture our

elderly citizens; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging and

the National Council on Aging.

========

LC005447

========

LC005447 - Page 2 of 2