What You Can Do to Get Involved with Elder Abuse Awareness Day

On June 15, 2006, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations launched World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Why? Because it used to be that elderly abuse was a private matter that was kept out of the public eye.

An estimated 5 million older Americans suffer from elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Elderly people are also vulnerable to economic abuse where others take advantage of their financial resources.

Sadly, many cases of elder abuse go unreported. But today, it’s seen as a problem that will increase as countries see a rapid growth in aging populations.

By 2025, the global population of persons 60 years and older will more than double, from 542 million in
1995 to about 1.2 billion!

Read on to learn the top ways you can get involved with Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Take a stand and speak up for the protection of elderly people. You could save the life of your parents, grandparents, and even yourself as you too will get older.

Top Ways to Get Involved with Elder Abuse Awareness Day

You can get involved within your community and learn and educate others about elder abuse and make it a priority. Here are the top things you can do to get involved with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Engage with Senior Citizens

You can get involved with Elder Abuse Awareness Day by volunteering at your local senior center and/or assisted living facility or nursing home. Many organizations rely on volunteers to help them care for seniors in one way or another. For example, you could be a visitor and sit and talk with seniors or maybe even play card games or Bingo. If elderly people have pets, you could become a pet walker or sitter.

Within your community, you could print out a Scam Checklist and encourage seniors and elderly family members to keep it by their phone. Finally, consider giving a caregiver the day off. If someone in your
family is taking care of an elderly parent; offer to give them a break. A few hours will rejuvenate them so that they can continue to care for the senior person in their life.

Organize or Participate in Events

Your church or senior center could organize an Elder Abuse Awareness Day event around the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’s (WEAAD) theme, “Stop Elder Abuse: Take The Roadmap Challenge.”

The first step is to define the audience so that you can determine who will benefit from it, who will participate, and who will contribute to your event. You’ll also want to choose a format, i.e. a panel discussion where experts share their insights on elder abuse.

Ask guest speakers such as attorneys, executives from assisted living facilities or nursing homes, and others to speak about the prevention of elder abuse and neglect. You can promote the event by adding information to newsletters and social networks. Brochures and pamphlets can be handed out during the presentation.

Use Your Organization’s Website

Let’s face it; many people get their information from the internet. You could promote World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by adding banners to your church, senior center, assisted living, or nursing home’s website.

A great way to provide information is to create and add an “elder abuse resources page.” This provides visitors with an easy way to find information about the prevention and reporting of elder abuse. Update the resources page to include the latest information.

Are You Ready to Take a Stand Against Elder Abuse?

Many situations put elderly people at the risk of violence, i.e., strained family relationships or potential abuse from assisted living or nursing home employees. Some may even face social isolation. Even cultural and socioeconomic factors put the elderly at the risk for abuse.

You can help put an end to elder abuse. How? By taking an interest in your senior family members and those within your community who may need extra help – dare to care.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15, 2016! Take a stand and help raise public awareness about elder abuse. Use your voice to speak out against the abuse and neglect against older persons.

Need help with elder law and life care planning? Download a questionnaire.