10:20 a.m., June 14, 2010----Although elder abuse is a devastating problem with potentially life-threatening consequences, it remains a relatively silent issue. Recent research suggests that 11 percent of all seniors may be affected, but experts conservatively estimate that only one in six cases is reported -- meaning victims most often do not get the help they need.

THIS STORY

E-mail

Print

Twitter

The consequences are grave; older individuals who experience mistreatment are at a significantly higher risk for premature death than seniors who are not victimized, and the costs of elder financial exploitation run in the billions. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 is an opportunity to shed light on this phenomenon and how to reduce its risk.

The day is of special importance at the University of Delaware because UD's Center for Community Research and Service is home to the Clearinghouse on Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly, a collaborator in the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA).

Elder abuse is a global problem, defined by the NCEA as any knowing, intentional or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.

Common types of mistreatment include physical, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect (by self or others), financial abuse or exploitation, sexual abuse or abandonment. NCEA estimates that there are between 700,000 and 3.5 million victims.

In 2006, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) established World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action, which recognizes the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue.

Unfortunately, no community or country in the world is immune from this costly, public health and human rights crisis.

In observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, NCEA, a resource center for professionals and the public, urges individuals, families, community groups, organizations and businesses to join in the fight against elder abuse by participating in awareness and prevention efforts.

Across the U.S., communities are promoting awareness through a wide spectrum of creative outreach efforts, including shred-a-thons, public rallies, art contests, classic car shows, professional conferences, public service announcements, documentary screenings and government sponsored events -- such as the federal observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the U.S. departments of Health and Human Services and Justice.

In addition to regional outreach efforts sponsored by state and community organizations, NCEA, a program of the U.S. Administration on Aging, is conducting a number of national initiatives.

For the second straight year, NCEA is running the Elder Abuse Information Piece before movie trailers in select movie theaters throughout the country through June 24. The 15-second video clip features actor William Mapother of Lost and emphasizes that the problem is one all people have a stake in addressing.

"Progress is being made in fighting elder abuse, but the problem is still tragically underappreciated and underreported,” said Mapother, who has been a spokesperson for the cause since 2007. “Elder abuse doesn't happen just to 'other people' -- it's inflicted on millions of our own parents, relatives and neighbors. Raising awareness is our first step toward finding a solution."

In addition to the video clip, NCEA will present a webcast, “The Brooke Astor Trial: A Case Study in Prosecution of Elder Financial Exploitation," featuring New York County Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Loewy on June 17. NCEA also has Join Us in the Fight Against Elder Abuse campaign materials available online.

“Outreach efforts have been ongoing for decades, but in recent years, since World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was established, it appears that progress has really escalated,” said Sharon Merriman-Nai, NCEA co-manager and project director of public awareness efforts at the University of Delaware.

NCEA encourages everyone to join in awareness and prevention efforts. There are many ways to become involved, from attending or organizing a World Day event, to visiting an older neighbor who lives alone to volunteering for a program that benefits seniors to organizing a fundraiser to support a local abuse prevention initiative.

One very simple way to show solidarity on June 15 is to wear or use the color purple, the official color of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Advocate Janet Lamb from Tennessee has even started a Facebook group to Light the White House Purple on June 15.

NCEA is a program of the U.S. Administration on Aging that is currently co-managed by the Clearinghouse on Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly at the University of Delaware Center for Community Research and Service. UD is the NCEA grantee also responsible for national elder abuse public awareness initiatives. For more information on elder abuse, the Join Us in the Fight Against Elder Abuse campaign or to find state reporting numbers, visit the NCEA website.