Preventing Elder Abuse

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Every year on June 15th, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is commemorated in United States and worldwide. In the U.S., an estimated 1 in 10 adults over the age of 60 experience some form of abuse each year. WEADD promotes awareness about what we can do to help prevent the abuse and neglect of one of our most vulnerable populations.

Here are 5 ways to help prevent your loved ones and other older adults from becoming victims of abuse (from National Care Advisors June newsletter):

  1. Learn the signs. Be on the lookout for physical and emotional abuse, as well as signs of financial abuse, neglect, or abandonment. You’ll find more information here.
  2. Prevent isolation. Call or visit your loved ones and check on them regularly. Ask them how they’re doing and if they’re getting the care they need. People who are isolated are more likely to be abused.
  3. Provide information. Make your loved ones aware of resources like community centers, law enforcement agencies, and advocacy organizations that they can turn to if they need help.
  4. Be a friend. Commit to visiting an older person in your community and be a lifeline, if they need one.
  5. Spread the message. Contact local media outlets and neighborhood programs and encourage them to participate in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Read full Social Security Administration article here.

The FBI recently announced that $1.6 billion has been lost to fraud and scams between January and May of this year, up nearly $300 million from a year ago. The federal agency reports that it has seen a double-digit increase in financial fraud involving older adults, with the number of elder fraud complaints increasing by 14 percent in 2023. In its Internet Criminal Complaint Center data, the FBI says criminal actors more frequently target older adults because they are perceived as being more vulnerable and trusting. Victims should not be embarrassed if they do fall prey to a scam — rather, they need to report it as soon as possible. The FBI says the most common elder fraud schemes reported in 2023 included tech support, confidence and romance, investment, and government impersonation scams.

For more, click here.