World Elder Abuse Awareness Day- June 15 Spread Awareness, Speak Up

June 15 is observed across the World as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to increase awareness about the abuse elders have to face. Elder abuse is something that has been present in every society but never acknowledged. It is really shameful that the world has to designate a day to raise awareness about the abuse of elders.

Abuse of elders could in different forms. It could be financial, or simply negligence. The elderly are not provided with basic necessities like food, medicine, safety, or assistance with hygiene. If anyone witnesses any such incident where an elderly person is abused, don’t be a spectator but act or at least make your voice heard and spread the news that an elderly are being abused,

History Of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day or WEAAD is a yearly event that is held on June 15, 2006, jointly by the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization.

The General Assembly of the United Nations in its 66/127 resolution declared June 15 as a day on which the world will in one voice denounce any abuse of the elderly in any form.

WEAAD strives to provide a platform where communities across the globe create awareness of the abuse elder people suffer via cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting them. Elder abuse is seldom discussed and least investigated type of violence.  Elders are not prioritized while planning or distributing the nation’s wealth and often come last in any government’s development plan.

The UN International Plan of Action has designated elder abuse as a human rights issue. It is estimated that by 2030 the world elderly population will touch 1.4 billion and as per research 4 to 6 percent of the elderly suffer from some kind of abuse. Ironically most of the abuse goes unreported. and the elderly often plead for the perpetrators to be spared.

How To Report An Instance Elder Abuse ?

Any instance of Elder Abuse must be reported to the police or a local anti-abuse organization

Getting More Information Of WEAAD?

Dedicated portals providing information for the prevention of elder abuse are available at the National Center on Law & Elder Rights, Savvy Saving Seniors®: Steps to Avoiding Scams, Ageless Alliance, and much more.

Different Forms Of Elder Abuse

Bedsores, bruises, or chafing are all signs that the elderly are being mistreated or physically abused. Another indication of abuse is poor hygiene. The changes in the elderly mood are another indication that the elder is facing some form of abuse. If the elder’s mental state becomes agitated, anxious, or listless the person is facing some form of abuse.

Use social media to spread instances of elderly abuse. Share informational articles on Facebook and use the hashtag #WEAAD on Twitter and spread the word through social media

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