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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CONCERNING THE PREVENTION OF EDLER ABUSE IN COOK COUNTY AND ADVANCING EDLDER SAFETY AND DIGINITY
WHEREAS, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse, approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60 and older experience some form of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation each year, making elder abuse a widespread and often hidden crisis affecting millions of older adults nationwide; and
WHEREAS, experts estimate that elder abuse remains significantly underreported, with studies suggesting that for every reported case, as many as 23 additional cases go undetected, leaving countless older adults without intervention or support; and
WHEREAS, financial exploitation is among the fastest-growing forms of elder abuse, with older Americans losing an estimated $28 billion annually to financial scams, fraud, theft, and exploitation perpetrated by strangers, caregivers, family members, and other trusted individuals; and
WHEREAS, abuse of older adults has devastating consequences on physical, emotional, and financial well-being, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that assault-related injuries among older adults cost the United States nearly $33 billion in 2022 alone; and
WHEREAS, research demonstrates that victims of elder abuse face increased risks of hospitalization, depression, social isolation, premature mortality, and loss of independence, underscoring the urgent need for prevention, education, intervention, and community support; and
WHEREAS, the population of adults aged 65 and older continues to grow rapidly, with the number of older Americans projected to reach nearly 95 million by 2060, making the protection of older adults an increasingly important public policy priority; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners encourages residents, community organizations, faith institutions, healthcare providers, financial institutions, and public agencies to work collaboratively to identify, prevent, and report elder abuse and to support the dignity, safety, and well-being of all older adults throughout Cook County.
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