June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. As the number of older adults continues to increase worldwide, the issue of elder abuse should remain top of mind. Financial exploitation is this year’s theme and according to the United Nations, this type of abuse is a common and serious problem, affecting between 5-10% of older people globally. Whether it’s by a family member or a scammer in another country, financial exploitation of the elderly can lead to not having enough money to pay for basic needs, including housing, food and healthcare. It’s important to understand that older people may also experience other kinds of abuse, including physical, psychological, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect. Sadly, elder abuse often goes unreported because the victim is embarrassed or unable to report it due to cognitive and other impairments. The problem of elder abuse should be a concern to us all, yet we often fail to recognize the symptoms. Read our resources on this topic below.
