Hundreds of thousands of elders, or older persons, are abused, exploited, and neglected, psychologically, physically, and financially, every year, according to the Administration on Aging (AOA). For these reasons, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was created as an international effort to raise awareness of the economic, cultural, demographic, and social processes involved in elder abuse and neglect, thus educating and providing individuals and communities with a better understanding of the issue. This week marks the 6th Annual WEAAD.
Elder neglect and abuse is a serious problem and can affect any older person, regardless of culture, ethnicity, or socio-economic level, and can have devastating and even life threatening results. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), elder abuse is “intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or ‘trusted’ individual that lead to, or may lead to, harm of a vulnerable elder.” The recognized forms of elder abuse include: emotional and/or psychological abuse, neglect, physical abuse, threats and other verbal abuse, abandonment, sexual abuse, and exploitation.
In order to observe WEAAD, Nevada residents can attend or organize an educational program or community event, commit to visiting an older family member, friend, or neighbor, become a Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman volunteer, or, the simplest way to recognize WEAAD, wear purple. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is about preventing elder abuse and neglect as much as it is a day to recognize it. To help prevent elder and nursing home abuse in Nevada, residents can commit to:
- Keeping in contact with older friends, neighbors and loved ones;
- Being aware of physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse warning signs, such as unexplained bruising, filthiness, sudden and/or unusual financial activity; and
- Immediately reporting any suspected elder mistreatment to the local elder protective services agency or law enforcement, if the danger is immediate. To report suspected elder abuse, exploitation, neglect and/or isolation, Nevada residents may call (702) 486-6930 in Las Vegas/Clark County, or (888) 729-0571 for other areas.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of elder abuse or neglect in Nevada, the compassionate Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at Shook & Stone can help you pursue compensation from abusive and/or negligent parties for the emotional and financial losses you’ve suffered. Contact us today for a free confidential consultation and to learn more about your legal rights at 702-570-0000.
Source:https://www.aoa.gov/aoaroot/aoa_programs/elder_rights/ea_prevention/weaad.aspx
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