June 8, 2009
The fourth-annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day will be observed June 15 with a public call-to-action -- “My World … Your World … Our World -- Free of Elder Abuse.”
Guernsey County Department of Job and Family Services Adult Protective Services Unit, Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center, and Haven of Hope will join forces to help bring awareness to this worldwide issue.
Throughout the world, abuse and neglect of older persons is largely under-recognized or treated as an unspoken problem. No community or country in the world is immune from this costly, public health and human rights crisis.
Locally, Adult Protective Services exists to address allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of the population age 60 years or older. Statistics indicate only one in five cases of elder abuse gets reported.
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, the United States has 44 million persons age 60 and older and 36 million people with disabilities.
In past decade, the number of domestic elder abuse reports investigated by APS across the nation has increased by more than 150 percent.
Nearly 62 percent of all cases of abuse, neglect or exploitation of adults living at home involve mistreatment by other people and 38 percent involve self-neglect.
Domestic elder abuse is a family problem, with nearly 90 percent of abusers being family members. And, men were the abusers in more than half of these cases.
To mark the special day, there will be an Elder Abuse Awareness Breakfast Buffet, 9 a.m. Monday, June 15 at the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center, 1022 Carlisle Ave., Cambridge.
The cost for seniors, age 60 and over, is “by donation,” and $5.50 per person for individuals under 60. Call 439-6681 for advance reservations.
The entire community is encouraged to wear purple clothing on June 15 to show the world they care about ending elder abuse and neglect.
Call 432-2381 or 1-800-307-8422 for information about the GCDJFS Adult Protective Services Unit or to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation.
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