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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The financial exploitation of elderly Illinois
3citizens continues to plague our State; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Studies indicate that one in nine senior citizens
5reported some form of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in the
6past 12 months; one in 20 older adults indicate some form of
7perceived financial mistreatment in the recent past; 90% of
8elderly abusers are family members; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Elderly financial exploitation is vastly
10underreported with only one in 44 instances reported; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Financially abused seniors are more likely to turn
12to Medicaid as a direct result of their funds being stolen; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Approximately 6.3 million older adults are in need
14of some long-term care; and
 
15    WHEREAS, It is estimated that nearly 13 million elderly
16citizens will access some form of long-term care by 2050; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Nearly 20% of senior citizens will incur more than
18$25,000 in out-of-pocket costs related to long-term care;
19therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
3declare our intent to eradicate financial abuse of the elderly
4in Illinois; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Public
6Health and the Illinois Department of Aging to work together to
7produce educational materials for elderly citizens of Illinois
8explaining their rights, the warning signs of financial
9exploitation, and appropriate reporting methods; and be it
10further
 
11    RESOLVED, That we urge the 13 Illinois Area Agencies on
12Aging Ombudsperson programs to partner with long-term care
13facilities in their respective regions to provide appropriate
14educational information and reporting methods to clients and
15patients on an annual basis; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois State Bar Association
17Elder Law Section to work to develop appropriate legal
18materials for long-term care facilities and State's Attorneys
19that offer information on identifying and prosecuting
20financial abuse of elderly citizens; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois State Medical Society

 

 

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1and the Illinois Nurses Association to provide their respective
2members with appropriate educational materials to assist with
3identifying and reporting suspected financial abuse of
4Illinois' older citizens; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
6delivered to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the
7Illinois Department of Aging, the 13 Illinois Area Agencies on
8Aging, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois State
9Medical Society, and the Illinois Nurses Association.