Woodland, CA – (June 13, 2022) – The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations (UN) launched the first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2006 in an effort to unite communities around the world in raising awareness about elder abuse. WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for our communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders, and reaffirm our country’s commitment to the principle of justice for all.
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office is committed to seeking justice for older adults through prevention, support for survivors, and effective prosecution. The Elder Protection Unit helps seniors (and people of all ages) connect with the correct reporting agencies when suspicious of scams or fraud. They have formed partnerships with many community partners to address barriers in the lives of older adults, whether crime-related or not; they respond to financial abuse by scammers with Adult Protective Services to provide intervention and education to community members; and they provide educational events to the community on elder abuse and fraud to help seniors and their loved ones spot the signs of abuse and scams and learn how to prevent them.
Every year an estimated 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Research suggests that as few as 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities. This means it takes everyone in the community to address elder abuse, as authorities will often not be alerted. Attend an educational event or research the signs of elder abuse so you can spot them and look out for older adults in your community. Some common signs are neglected hygiene, unexplained injuries, confusion, untreated health issues, unusual bank activity, sudden close relationships with a stranger, and withdrawal from others.
It also takes community support to prevent abuse from happening in the first place. Isolation, lack of social support and resources, dependence on others, substance misuse, and mental health issues create an environment where older adults can more easily be taken advantage of.
Thankfully, community members can easily address many of these barriers. A simple step is to maintain relationships with older adults already in your life. On June 15th, call your friends and relatives. Look after other members at church or social groups. If you host a hobby meetup, volunteer organization, support group, or other social event, make sure it’s a welcome space for people of all ages:
- Pick times and locations that are convenient for all ages and abilities. Account for physical accessibility and proximity to public transit.
- Actively recruit people of all ages by posting flyers and using newspaper ads in addition to using social media.
If you’re an older adult feeling isolated, a good place to start is to attend an event at your local senior center. Yolo County is lucky to have several local senior and community centers with many activities each month. There are workouts, craft meetups, movie nights, travel organizations, and so much more. Yolo Health Aging Alliance also matches up phone friends to help foster friendships and connection in our community. You can call for more information at (530) 776-5006.
If you or someone you care about are looking for support or resources, but aren’t sure where to start, dial 211. The Sacramento/Yolo 211 is Yolo County’s designated 24-hour information and assistance helpline for seniors in addition to helping people of all ages. Their job is to help callers find the resources they’re looking for. Yolo County also has an Aging and Disability Resource Center focused on connecting aging and disabled adults with long-term services and support in their community. They can be reached at (530) 248-2421.
Please join the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office in creating a community that works hard to protect against and prevent elder abuse. If you would like more information about anything discussed in this article, you can call (530) 666-8396.
Adult Protective Services Team comprised of HHSA and DA Staff Members
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