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VULNERABLE AND ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH 2015 <br />A PROCLAMATION <br />WHEREAS, Cabarrus County joins the world in recognizing World Elder <br />Abuse Awareness Day every June 15th; <br />WHEREAS, national and international research reveals that abuse, neglect <br />and exploitation of vulnerable and older adults are grossly underreported; and <br />WHEREAS, Cabarrus County's vulnerable and older adults of all social, economic, racial and <br />ethnic backgrounds may be targets of abuse, neglect or exploitation, which can occur in families, long- <br />term care settings and communities; and <br />WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina enacted the nation's first elder abuse law in 1973, aimed <br />at protecting older adults and vulnerable adults age 18 to 59 with disabilities, and increasingly <br />recognizes the need for a comprehensive system of protection for vulnerable and older adults; and <br />WHEREAS, protecting North Carolina's vulnerable and older adults is a community <br />responsibility and all citizens are charged under State law to report suspected abuse, neglect or <br />exploitation to their local county department of social services; and <br />WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2013, over 21,000 reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of <br />vulnerable and older adults were made to North Carolina's 100 county departments of social services; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, the Division of Aging and Adult Services partners with county departments of social <br />services to offer a statewide Adult Protective Services Program with area agencies on aging to increase <br />awareness about elder abuse through its Long -Term Care Ombudsman Program, and with the State <br />Attorney General's Office and others to assist victims of telemarketing scams and other forms of <br />consumer fraud; and <br />WHEREAS, today, 59 of North Carolina's 100 counties are projected to have more people age <br />60 and over than age 17 and younger, and one in five North Carolinians are age 60 and older; and <br />WHEREAS, Mother's and Father's Days are national holidays intended to honor, respect, and <br />promote the dignity and well -being of our parents; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners do <br />hereby proclaim May 8 - June 22, 2015, as "VULNERABLE AND ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH" in <br />Cabarrus County, and commend its observance to all citizens. <br />Adopted this the 15 day of June, 2015. <br />Stephen M. Morris, Chairman <br />Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners <br />Attachment number 1 <br />C -3 Page 38 <br />