Mr. Speaker, while many forms of abusive relationships exist in our society, one of the most reprehensible is elder abuse: physical, mental or, perhaps the most perverse of abuses, financial.
The elderly, whose wills have been weakened by the advancing onset of age, cannot defend themselves as they surely would have in their younger years and are shamed into silence.
Lifelong savings carefully planned to provide security and independence from the state, planned small gifts to family members or charities of choice from the remaining assets on demise are heartlessly drained away by those most closest to them, right before their eyes.
We, as parliamentarians, must recognize the problem of elder abuse and be the architects of its resolve.
I commend those on the front lines for their efforts: police departments across this country. But they need more resources and better tools.
Elder abuse is pervasive and shamefully growing. We need to do better to protect our seniors.