County program plans exhibit to bring light to the issue
Walworth County Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services program is commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day through a pinwheel exhibit at the new Health and Human Services building, 1910 Highway NN, Elkhorn.
The exhibit of 335 purple pinwheels representing the number of elder abuse cases reported in 2019 will be strategically placed in the green space south of the building near the roadway on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15.
The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations launched the first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2006, in an effort to unite communities around the world in raising awareness about elder abuse.
WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders, and reaffirm the country’s commitment to the principle of justice for all.
“When we come together, we can prevent elder abuse from happening. We can put support services in place and direct community resources toward addressing elder abuse. Our country must reaffirm our commitment to justice and create a sturdy structure of support that will benefit us all as we get older,” a press release from Walworth County HHS stated.
Every year an estimated one in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and that’s only part of the picture. Experts believe that elder abuse is significantly under-reported, in part because so many of our communities lack the social supports that would make it easier for those who experience abuse to report it.
Research suggests that as few as one in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities. In addition to being a clear violation of the American commitment to justice for all, elder abuse is an issue with many consequences for our society. Its effects on our communities range from public health to economic issues.
The good news is that steps can be taken to prevent and address the issue of elder abuse. There are many ways to strengthen social supports through policies, services and programs that keep people integrated in the communities as they age, including:
- Designing and equipping community centers to work as intergenerational spaces that allow older people to build relationships and participate in the work, play, and life of the neighborhoods;
- Rethinking the role of transportation in reducing social isolation and adjust systems so everyone can move throughout the communities as they age;
- Figuring out new and better ways to arrange and coordinate the teams, agencies and programs that work specifically with older people; and
- Developing programs to educate families and professionals who work with older adults to understand the importance of preventing isolation, how to spot the warning signs of abuse, and what to do to address abuse or neglect.
For more information about services for older adults, contact the ADRC of Walworth County at 262-741-3400.
