A Spotlight on Today’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Today’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – an annual opportunity for people around the world to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect and exploitation – is a moment for us all to share information and spread awareness about the prevalence and effect of elder abuse.

Approximately five million older persons are abused, exploited and neglected every year, losing an estimated $2.6 billion or more annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation in the United States alone. Those are funds that could have been used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care. No one is immune - it occurs in every demographic and can happen to anyone.

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. WEAAD is in support of 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.

Visit the Administration for Community Living site for more information and to learn how you can take a stand against elder abuse.