Summary

Elder Abuse Awareness Day proclaimed on June 15

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In proclaiming June 15, 2010 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in King County, members of the Metropolitan King County Council said today that recent high-profile cases of elder abuse have highlighted the importance of safeguarding society’s vulnerable adults.

The proclamation encourages everyone to commit to building safer lives and a safe community for elderly residents. It also highlights the public and private agencies that work together to combat elder abuse, including the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network. The National Center on Elder Abuse found that the most common perpetrator of elder abuse is the victim's spouse or partner, making it a form of domestic violence.

“Seeing elders treated with the care, respect and dignity they deserve is an issue that’s near and dear to my heart, as I watch my own mother age and become more reliant on the care of others,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, co-sponsor of the proclamation. “We all can play a role in looking out for vulnerable elders who have made a lifetime of contributions to our community and need our care and protection from financial, emotional, and physical abuse.”

“Sadly, many cases of elder abuse involve family members,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, who has served on King County’s Domestic Violence Council. “Many older women who are victimized by partners do not see themselves as abused, but many feel ashamed, embarrassed, depressed and afraid to confide in friends and family. Financial security issues also prevent older women from reporting abuse. Fortunately, King County has a unit in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office that specializes in identifying elder abuse and working with police and social service agencies to assist victims.”

“Each one of us can help reduce the incidence of elder abuse by listening to seniors and their caregivers, intervening when we suspect abuse, and educating others about how to recognize and report suspicious behavior,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson. “We must be fully prepared to ensure that senior citizens in our community live with dignity, integrity, independence and without the fear of abuse, neglect and exploitation.”

According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, it handles about 350 cases a year involving elder neglect and abuse, and recognizes the need for focusing on the rapidly growing elderly population in King County.

Communities around the globe celebrate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day every June 15. Elder abuse consists of any act that harms a senior or jeopardizes his or her health or welfare, including neglect or financial, emotional or physical abuse, and is inflicted on vulnerable seniors across all socio-economic boundaries.

Councilmembers called for everyone in the community to help prevent elder abuse by recognizing the signs, such as physical trauma, withdrawal, depression, anxiety, and fear of family members, friends or caregivers. For more information, go to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s web site or call (206) 296-9010.

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PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, King County’s senior citizens deserve to be treated with respect and dignity to enable them to continue to serve as leaders, mentors, and volunteers who contribute to the vitality of the community; and

WHEREAS, elder abuse consists of intentional actions that cause harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable elder by a person in a trusted relationship, or failure by a caregiver to satisfy the elder’s basic needs or to protect the elder from harm, and is inflicted on vulnerable seniors across all socio-economic boundaries; and

WHEREAS, the National Center on Elder Abuse determined that the most common perpetrator of elder abuse is the victim’s spouse or partner, which is defined as domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, the Elder Abuse Victims Act now under consideration by Congress will establish specialized elder abuse prosecution and research programs and activities to aid victims and train public safety officials in combating abuse of older people, to help improve the quality of life for all seniors across this country; and

WHEREAS, King County’s Prosecuting Attorney’s Office handles approximately 350 felony cases a year involving elder neglect and abuse and has recognized the needs of a rapidly growing elderly population in King County by creating a unit trained to prosecute elder abuse cases, work with police and social service agencies, and train first responders; and

WHEREAS, King County’s Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN) and the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence provide local resources to help seniors overcome barriers and escape elder abuse; and

WHEREAS, we all are responsible for eliminating elder abuse by watching for signs such as physical trauma, withdrawal, depression, anxiety, fear of family members, friends, or caregivers; and

WHEREAS, communities around the globe celebrate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day every June 15th;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, hereby proclaim June 15, 2010 as

ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY

in King County and encourage everyone to commit to building safer lives and a safe community for our elderly residents.

DATED this fourteenth day of June, 2010.