1Designating June 15, 2013, 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 2012, and it is estimated that only one in
11five cases of abuse is reported; and

12WHEREAS, The act of November 6, 1987 (P.L.381, No.79), known
 

1as the Older Adults Protective Services Act, requires that older
2adults who lack the capacity to protect themselves shall have
3access to and be provided with services necessary to protect
4their health, safety and welfare; and

5WHEREAS, A partnership exists between the Department of
6Aging, the Pennsylvania Association on Area Agencies on Aging,
7district attorneys, county elder abuse task forces and State and
8local law enforcement to investigate every allegation of elder
9abuse; and

10WHEREAS, It is necessary to increase awareness of the
11incidents of elder abuse and to educate people about the methods
12to report suspected cases of abuse; therefore be it

13RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate June
1415, 2013, as "Elder Abuse Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania and
15strive to increase awareness every day about elder abuse and the
16resources in place to prevent it from occurring.