The Dove Firm PLLC

Today, June 15th, is the annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) as first declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. Elder abuse is increasingly recognized as an important worldwide problem, and one that is likely to grow as many countries experience the rapid aging of their populations.  In the U.S. alone, some 10,000 people turn 65 every day. The focus of this year’s WEAAD is financial abuse of the elderly — a very common form of elder abuse which, for the most part, remains hidden and unreported. It is hoped WEAAD will raise the general awareness of this form of elder abuse and by so doing reduce its frequency.

The theme of the 2017 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) to be observed at the United Nations Headquarters on June 15th is “ Understand and End Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue .”  Financial exploitation of the elderly is a common and serious problem, experienced by an estimated 5 to 10 per cent of seniors globally. It is a crime that, for a variety of reasons, often goes unreported. Cognitive and other impairments often limit the ability that older victims have to identify and report financial abuses perpetrated against them. In addition, the perpetrators are often close family members and trusted caregivers, adding an element of shame and embarrassment to an already painful situation.  World Elder Abuse Awareness Day throws a bright public light on this unfortunate situation, and provides an opportunity for the whole world to voice its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted upon far too many of our senior citizens.

The United Nations has designated June 15th as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). The first WEAAD was observed in 2012, and was marked by meetings and conferences at UN headquarters in New York. The day aims to focus global attention on the physical, emotional, and financial abuse that is often targeted at elders. The global population of people over the age of 60 is a rapidly growing demographic group. World Health Organization data indicates that at least 4 to 6 per cent of the elderly experience some form of abuse. WEAAD seeks to bring together senior citizens and all those who care about them to exchange ideas about how best to reduce the incidence of elder abuse and to improve the reporting of such abuse that does occur.