Bill Text: MI HR0132 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to declare June 2017 as Elder Abuse Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-06-20 - Adopted [HR0132 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-HR0132-Enrolled.html
Substitute for House Resolution No. 132.
A resolution to declare June 2017 as Elder Abuse Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.
Whereas, On June 15, 2006, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, among other international organizations; and
Whereas, Estimates show that more than 1 in 10 persons over age 60, or 6,000,000 individuals, are victims of elder abuse each year; and
Whereas, The vast majority of the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults in the United States goes unidentified, as only 1 in 44 cases of financial abuse of older adults is reported; and
Whereas, Elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation have no boundaries and cross all racial, social, class, gender, and geographic lines; and
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; and
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 together on the federal, state, and local levels to combat increasing occurrences of abuse, neglect, and exploitation crime and violence against vulnerable older adults and vulnerable adults, particularly in light of limited resources for vital protective services; and
Whereas, 2017 is the 12th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare June 2017 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Michigan. The House of Representatives recognizes judges, lawyers, adult protective services professionals, law enforcement officers, long-term care ombudsmen, social workers, health care providers, professional guardians, advocates for victims, and other professionals and agencies for the efforts to advance awareness of elder abuse. We encourage 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, long-term care ombudsman programs, and the National Center on Elder Abuse, and by learning to recognize, detect, report, and respond to elder abuse; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to the members of the Michigan congressional delegation and the Governor of the State of Michigan.
