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Guest columm/Elder Abuse Awareness Day shines spotlight on issue

Today is being recognized as Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It is a worldwide effort to heighten the awareness of the mistreatment of older adults, wherever they live, to increase prevention efforts through out the year and for years to come.

No country, state or community is immune from the tragedy of elder abuse. Elder abuse is a universal problem that crosses all socio-economic boundaries.

Older adults are vital, contributing members of our society, and their abuse or neglect diminishes all of us. Elder abuse can be financial, emotional, physical and sexual. It also includes people who are neglected — the failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care or protection and those who neglect themselves.

Abusers are family members. Despite this, older folks value their autonomy and independence over personal safety. They want to stay in their homes, even if that means dealing with abuse and neglect from their family. The thought or threat of being sent to a nursing home is a primary driver in why elders report abuse at a significantly reduced rate. Trusted, professionals and complete strangers may also target older adults.

The consequences of elder abuse are grave.

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, one in 10 older adults will experience some type of elder abuse, older adults who are abused are twice as likely to be hospitalized, four times as likely to go into nursing homes and three times as likely to die. The fastest growing population in the United States are people 60 and older.

By 2020 the projected population of Jefferson County will be made up 30.2 percent of people 60 and older. By 2030 there will be approximately 72.1 million seniors in the United States.

Remember, elder abuse is a crime. Elders, who have contributed so much to our society, deserve to live in a dignified and respected environment in their later years.

We all have a responsibility to support the safety and welfare of Jefferson County’s vulnerable and older adults. Be a good citizen and a good neighbor and report instances of elder abuse to the Jefferson County Job and Family Services Adult Protection Unit at (740) 282-0961.

(Ferron is director of the Jefferson County Department of Jobs and Family Services.)

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