World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15th, 2013. According to the Administration on Aging, "Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation". What are some of the warning signs of elder abuse?

• Signs of neglect: lack of basic hygiene, medical aids (i.e. glasses, medications), left without care if confined to a bed, or untreated bed sores.
• financial abuse: caregiver has control of the senior's finances and does not use the money to take care of the senior's needs or the older adult is giving large amounts of money or gifts to their caregiver.
• psychological abuse 
• physical abuse

You can learn more about the signs of abuse here and learn more on what you can do to protect Seniors from abuse by reading the National Center on Elder Abuse factsheet. In addition, the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs also has a webpage about how to report elder abuse and how to prevent it.

If you suspect that an older adult is being abused, you should call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. Another great resource is the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas elder helpline: 1-800-963-5337. If the senior lives at a nursing home or assisted living facility, a volunteer from the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman program may be able to help. You can contact them via the elder helpline: 1-800-963-5337.