COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

PROCLAMATION
ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY
June 15, 2015
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, in partnership with the Pennsylvania
Attorney General, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, the Pennsylvania
Department of Human Services, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, advocates for elder
Pennsylvanians rights and strives to provide protections against abuse, neglect, exploitation and
abandonment; and
WHEREAS, among all states, Pennsylvania has the fourth largest number of senior citizens,
with nearly 2.7 million individuals age 60 and older; and
WHEREAS, reports of elder abuse to the commonwealths network of local Area Agencies on
Aging continue to rise with more than 20,500 reports of elder abuse last year; and
WHEREAS, as the senior population of our commonwealth continues to grow, the
Pennsylvania Department of Aging is responsible to administer statewide elder justice and elder rights
programs under the Older Americans Act and the Older Adult Protective Services Act for
Pennsylvanians 60 years of age and older; and
WHEREAS, through the development of elder abuse task forces at the local level and in
collaboration with other community-based organizations, the Department of Aging and its network of
local Area Agencies on Aging are committed to engaging in prevention activities that help to protect
older Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, advancing professional and public education has provided knowledge to recognize
and report the signs of elder abuse, whether it be physical, emotional, or financial; and
WHEREAS, through this network that stands united as a strong and viable resource, older
Pennsylvanians have a haven from such actions as listed above; and
WHEREAS, dedicating this day will bring together older adults, their families, caregivers,
national and local governments, academics, faith communities and the private sector to show the
public that elder abuse will not be tolerated; and
WHEREAS, older individuals are the foundation of a prosperous community and it is every
Pennsylvanians responsibility to protect their health, safety, dignity and rights.
THEREFORE, in special recognition of the importance of protecting older Pennsylvanians, I,
Tom Wolf, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim June 15, 2015,
ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY in Pennsylvania and encourage all citizens, families, members of
law enforcement, elected and public officials, community groups and leaders, and others to learn more
about the signs of elder abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation, and to help raise
awareness of this public health issue.
GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor,
at the City of Harrisburg, on this tenth day of June in
the Year of our Lord two thousand and fifteen, and of
the Commonwealth the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

TOM WOLF
Governor