Each year, hundreds of thousands of older persons are abused, neglected, and exploited. In addition, many seniors throughout the United States lose an estimated $2.6 billion or more annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation, funds that often are essential to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care. Unfortunately, the recent case of Mickey Rooney demonstrates that no one is immune to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It occurs in every demographic, and can happen to anyone, yet it is estimated that only about one in five of those crimes are ever discovered.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched on June 15, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes contributing to elder abuse and neglect. WEAAD also furthers the United Nations International Plan of Action acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
To learn more about Elder Rights and the prevention of elder abuse and exploitation visit the Administration on Aging website. If you or someone you love has suffered abuse at the hands of caretakers, contact the authorities to report the abuse and consider consulting a personal injury attorney about the legal options for redress.
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