World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2021
| Published date | 17 June 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 32359 |
| Record Number | 2021-13019 |
| Section | Presidential Documents |
| Court | Executive Office Of The President |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 115 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 115 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 32359-32360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13019]
[[Page 32357]]
Vol. 86
Thursday,
No. 115
June 17, 2021
Part IIIThe President-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Proclamation 10228--World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2021
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 86 , No. 115 / Thursday, June 17, 2021 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 32359]]
Proclamation 10228 of June 14, 2021
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2021
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Older Americans make invaluable contributions to our
families, our communities, and our Nation every day.
But for far too many, the sacred promise of aging with
dignity in America is broken by unconscionable
incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. On World
Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Americans of all ages join
the international community to raise awareness and help
bring an end to elder abuse.
Elder abuse can take many forms, including financial,
emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, as well as
exploitation and neglect. Every year, one in ten
Americans aged 60 and older experiences abuse--and for
every case of elder abuse that comes to the attention
of authorities, it is estimated that 23 cases are never
brought to light. Since the start of the COVID-19
pandemic, we have also seen a chilling increase in hate
crimes targeting Asian-Americans, many of whom have
been elders. These attacks are shameful and deeply un-
American.
Central to our Nation is the idea that we are all in
this together, and that as Americans we owe one another
a basic duty of care. The pandemic has both reinforced
the importance of that duty and tested our capacity to
meet it--the virus has exacerbated the quiet harm of
social isolation among seniors around the world, a
condition that makes abuse, neglect, and exploitation
more likely. Having lost so many cherished seniors to
this virus, we must recommit ourselves to fully
including older Americans in our communities and
systems of support. We must care for one another--and
leave no one behind.
With over three-quarters of Americans 65 and over now
fully vaccinated and more progress being made every
day, the future for seniors is growing brighter and
brighter. After a painful year, grandparents around the
world are hugging their grandchildren again. Vaccinated
seniors who were socially isolated are able to reengage
with the broader community again. And as we begin to
build back better, we are working to ensure that older
Americans have greater opportunities to live with
dignity, safety, independence, and social connections.
My Administration is committed to fulfilling that
promise. That's why the American Rescue Plan included
more than $1.4 billion in additional funding for
programs that promote community living and ensure the
safety and protection of older adults. The law also
enhances the Elder Justice Act and ensures that Adult
Protective Services can be used to protect the safety
and dignity of all seniors. Additionally, the plan
included new Medicaid funding to expand access to
critical home and community-based health care services,
and over $275 million for elder justice programs that
address abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The American
Jobs Plan and American Families Plan will further that
progress, building up the care infrastructure that our
economy and so many families depend on--expanding day
programs for seniors, programs that bring care workers
to seniors' homes to cook meals, and programs to help
seniors get around their home safely and live more
independently.
[[Page 32360]]
As we expand opportunities for older Americans, my
Administration will also not tolerate elder abuse or
hate in any form. I have instructed agencies across the
Federal Government to do their part to combat elder
abuse and support survivors. We are working to renew
and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act, which
also dedicates Federal funds to develop a more
comprehensive approach to addressing abuse and neglect
in later life, including through the funding of victim
service providers, law enforcement, and prosecutors
working to prevent and respond to domestic violence,
sexual assault, and stalking experienced by older
adults, whether caused by a spouse, family member,
caregiver, or others. And this year, for the first
time, the Federal Government has provided funding to
Adult Protective Services programs in every State and
Territory to support their critical, on-the-ground work
investigating abuse and connecting victims to
resources.
During World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we also
recognize the individuals who dedicate themselves to
preventing elder abuse. All across our Nation,
caregivers work to help older adults stay connected to
their communities while preventing elder abuse and
intervening if it occurs. These unsung heroes include
family members, Adult Protective Services workers,
social service providers, nonprofit victim services
organizations, long-term care ombudspersons, law
enforcement officers, judges and judicial personnel,
legal professionals, health care professionals, and
financial professionals.
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we stand with all
older Americans, and elderly people around the world,
who are victims of elder abuse, neglect, and financial
exploitation, and we recommit ourselves to protecting
every senior's right to live their golden years with
dignity and respect.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of
the United States of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws
of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 15, 2021,
as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. I call upon all
Americans to work for elder justice by building
inclusive communities that welcome people of all ages
and abilities; by learning the warning signs of elder
abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and by challenging
age-related biases.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
fifth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2021-13019
Filed 6-16-21; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P
