1Designating June 15, 2014, as "Elder Abuse Awareness Day" in
2Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Older Pennsylvanians should be recognized as a
4valuable resource to this Commonwealth; and

5WHEREAS, No one is immune to the threat of elder abuse; and

6WHEREAS, It is an obligation of all citizens to protect the
7health, safety and welfare of this Commonwealth's elder
8citizens; and

9WHEREAS, The Commonwealth received more than 18,500 reports
10of elder abuse in 2013 and it is estimated that only one in five
11cases of abuse is reported; and

12WHEREAS, The Department of Aging has declared the theme of
13this year's Elder Abuse Awareness Day as "One Person, One
14Action, One State – United Against Elder Abuse"; and

1WHEREAS, The act of November 6, 1987 (P.L.381, No.79), known 
2as the Older Adults Protective Services Act, requires that older 
3adults who lack the capacity to protect themselves shall have 
4access to and be provided with the services necessary to protect 
5their health, safety and welfare; and

6WHEREAS, A partnership exists between the Department of
7Aging, the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging,
8Temple University's Institute on Protective Services, district
9attorneys, county elder abuse task forces and State and local
10law enforcement to investigate every allegation of elder abuse;
11and

12WHEREAS, It is necessary to increase awareness of the
13incidents of elder abuse and to educate people about the methods
14to report suspected cases of abuse; therefore be it

15RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate June
1615, 2014, as "Elder Abuse Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania and
17strive to increase awareness every day about elder abuse and the
18resources in place to prevent it from occurring.