June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

June 15, 2020 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. On that day, communities in the USA and all over the world will sponsor events to highlight solutions to this systemic social challenge. The Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging is proud to participate in this national conversation.

As Americans, we believe in justice for all. Yet we fail to live up to this promise when we allow older members of our society to be abused or neglected. Older people are vital, contributing members of American society and their maltreatment diminishes all of us. Just as we have confronted and addressed the social issues of child abuse and domestic violence, so too can we find solutions to address issues like elder abuse, which also threatens the well-being of our community.

Our policies and practices make it hard for older people to stay involved with and connected to our communities as they age. As a result, older people are more likely to experience social isolation, which increases the likelihood of abuse and neglect. We can design stronger societal supports to keep our older people connected and protect them from abuse, whether financial, emotional, physical or sexual. When we address a root cause, like social isolation, we also make it less likely that people will become neglected. Older adults who are socially connected and protected from harm are less likely to be hospitalized, less likely to go into nursing homes and less likely to die prematurely. During this COVID-19 crisis the challenges of vulnerable adults is magnified. We are seeing scams and abuses magnified with the stressors brought on by COVID-19.

To learn more about ways to volunteer or support the work to ensure that our older neighbors are safe and well cared for visit our website at nekcouncil.org or call and join the conversation at 802-748-5812. Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Meg Burmeister
Executive Director
Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging

Here is some important information regarding the prevention of scams that target seniors:

https://www.ncoa.org/economic-security/money-management/scams-security/top-10-scams-targeting-seniors/