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Date: Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343
At the same time, President Clinton called on Congress to pass legislation reauthorizing the Older Americans Act and the services it provides for elderly persons. In a letter to Congress, the president underscored the need for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, and at a White House Ceremony today, he said, "Let me ask Congress again to put aside partisanship and embrace our common responsibilities by reauthorizing the Older Americans Act. For years, this law has improved the lives of millions of our senior citizens, providing everything from meals on wheels, to counseling, to legal services. Every day that goes by without passing the bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the act sends a troubling message to seniors that their needs are not a priority."
"Many older Americans are in urgent need of the services provided under the Older Americans Act, including abuse prevention, ombudsman services, and meals on wheels," Secretary Shalala said. "We must continue to provide a strong and creative legal framework to help those older Americans who need our assistance, and we must have the Older Americans Act reauthorized and in full force if we are to do the best job we can."
The new National Center on Elder Abuse is funded by a $1 million HHS grant and is led by the National Association of State Units on Aging. Operating as a partnership between several service and legal organizations, the center will especially expand its support of training activities, aiming at helping "senior sentinels" -- persons who work with older persons on a regular basis -- as well as medical and social service professionals to identify and respond appropriately to possible cases of elder abuse and neglect.
According to a recent report to Congress, more than half a million older Americans suffered some form of abuse and neglect in 1996. In cases where a perpetrator of abuse and neglect is known, the perpetrator is found to be a family member in 90 percent of cases, and two-thirds of these perpetrators are adult children or spouses.
The report covers all major categories of abuse and neglect in domestic settings. This includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse, financial abuse, neglect by another responsible individual, and self- neglect (behavior by an elderly person that threatens his or her own health or safety).
"We know that elder abuse and neglect are under-reported, so we must rely on those who see their older friends and clients on a daily basis to help steer help where it is needed," said Jeanette C. Takamura, HHS assistant secretary for aging. HHS' Administration on Aging oversaw the report, The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study, which was conducted by the American Public Human Services Association and Westat, Inc.