By Charles D. Johnson
Director, Illinois Department on Aging
July is Elder Abuse Awareness Month in Illinois. During the month of July, communities across Illinois will sponsor events to shed light on the growing and tragic issue of elder abuse.
Your readers, young and old, should be aware that the U.S. Administration on Aging estimates as many as 3.5 million older Americans are abused each year.
And this is only the tip of the iceberg since only one in five cases of elder abuse is ever reported to authorities.
In an effort of preventing elder abuse and neglect, the Illinois Department on Aging is launching its annual public awareness and education campaign, called “Break the Silence.”
Please support these efforts by printing this letter which includes steps we should all take to prevent elder abuse and neglect.
To fight elder abuse:
1. Regularly call or visit an elderly loved one to ask how he or she is doing.
2. Provide a respite break for a caregiver.
3. Ask your bank manager to train tellers on how to detect elder financial abuse.
4. Ask your doctor to ask all senior patients about possible family violence in their lives.
5. Ask your local senior center to present a program on elder abuse.
6. Organize a “Respect Your Elders” essay or poster contest in your child’s school.
7. Ask your religious congregation’s leader to give a talk about elder abuse at a service or to put a message about elder abuse in the bulletin.
8. Volunteer to be a friendly visitor to a nursing home resident or to a homebound senior in your neighborhood.
9. Learn the warning signs of abuse – for more information, visit the Illinois Department on Aging website at: http://www.state.il.us/aging/ or contact your local Elder Abuse Provider Agency to ask about elder abuse.
10. Call the state’s 24 hour Elder Abuse Hotline at (866) 800-1409, if you or someone you know is a victim of elder abuse. Trained professionals are prepared to help.
Thank you for helping to keep our seniors safe.
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