World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

June 15th is Elder Abuse Awareness day and the Department of Health and Human Services wants to share ways to recognize and report all forms of abuse. 

It is estimated that 5 million Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation every year in the United States. 

Often times, when people hear the word abuse, they think physical. Elder abuse can come in many forms and often times in schemes that elders don’t suspect.

“Friends of Friends that have been victims of the romance schemes through the internet and it’s just really frightening to think that that can happen so easily,” Cynthia Brammeier said.

Financial exploitation is self reported at rates higher than emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or neglect. An estimated range for elder financial abuse is $3 to $34 billion dollars annually. 

“Well, I would say that financial exploitation is probably the most common perpetrator form of abuse that we are investigating,”  Benjamin Kroeze said.

Elderly abuse can happen to anyone but there is one common theme that those being abused often share.

“The most common characteristic for the people that are being abused, neglected or financially exploited is loneliness and isolation. That’s why it’s happening,” Kroeze said.

Aging Partners aims to prevent isolation by offering hot lunches to elders five days a week and provide daily activities to keep elders involved.