R 233
2020 -- S 2876
Enacted 06/17/2020

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

     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
========