Mass General Court Commends Hebrew SeniorLife in Elder Abuse Day Resolution

BOSTON — Hebrew SeniorLife, a national senior services provider in Boston, has been commended by the Massachusetts General Court on its recognition of June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The resolution, which is signed by dozens of members of the Massachusetts General Court, was read aloud by Representative Danielle Gregoire on Monday, June 12, at an Elder Abuse Awareness event held at NewBridge on the Charles, a Hebrew SeniorLife community in Dedham, Mass.

“It was a tremendous honor to participate in the Elder Abuse Awareness Day event at Hebrew SeniorLife this week,” said Representative Gregoire. “In the short time that I have been House Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, I have been made more and more aware of the perils that face one of our most vulnerable populations. It is critical that we as individuals, and as a community, make concerted efforts to shine a light on elder abuse and neglect and do all that we can to prevent the mistreatment of our elders."

The resolution notes that one in 10 Americans over the age of 60 have experienced some type of abuse, neglect or exploitation and that in 2015, the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Elder Affairs received over 25,000 such reports. The resolution includes that elder abuse, neglect and exploitation cross all racial, social, class, gender and geographic lines, and can only be mitigated with greater awareness and action on the part of the community.

Also addressed in the document is the fact that “protecting our vulnerable elders is a community responsibility and private individuals and public agencies must work together at all levels of government to combat elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.”

Lastly, the resolution commends Hebrew SeniorLife for its recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) and urges other members of the public to follow suit in promoting awareness and prevention of elder abuse.

Hebrew SeniorLife CEO Lou Woolf said, “We are tremendously proud to have been recognized in this manner and thank Representative Gregoire and the many members of the legislature that signed the resolution. We are committed to improving the quality of life for all seniors, especially the most vulnerable among us, and are turning our attention to promote awareness, education, and prevention of elder abuse.”

Hebrew SeniorLife’s recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is just one part of its larger effort to promote elder abuse education and awareness. HSL is also committed to engaging in advocacy, conducting research, and providing supportive services while developing the state’s first shelter for seniors facing elder abuse.

The official signed resolution from the Massachusetts General Court will be displayed permanently at Hebrew SeniorLife’s flagship campus in Roslindale, Mass.

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Founded in Boston in 1903, the nonprofit, non-sectarian organization today provides communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit http://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook or read our blog.