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Public Awareness
Here are some fantastic free resources for spreading awareness of the ever-growing problem of elder abuse. This is not a comprehensive list, and we are always looking for innovative groups that have taken a stand against elder abuse. Please send your suggestions to centeronelderabuse@uci.edu.
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The "Imagine a World" poster by the Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect is available for downloading and printing in three different sizes: |
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"Make a Difference with your heart, voice, hand, and mind" is the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day theme of the Ageless Alliance. The artwork is available for you to use for your WEAAD activities: |
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Ageless Alliance: United Against Elder Abuse
Visit www.AgelessAlliance.org for a 30-second, 60-second, or 3-minute Public Service Announcement about the magnitude of the problem and a grassroots social justice movement inviting people to join United Against Elder Abuse.
From Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
- Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse and Financial Abuse PSAs by ONPEA
- ONPEA materials en Espanol http://www.eapon.ca/training-education/training/spanish-materials/
National Crime Prevention Council - Senior Fraud Campaign
Elder Abuse and Its Impact: What You Must Know (PDF)
ONE in TEN Americans age 60+ experiences abuse each year, and many experience it in multiple forms.
- Acierno R, Hernandez MA, Amstadter AB, Resnick HS, Steve K, Muzzy W, et al. (2010). Prevalence and correlates of emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse and potential neglect in the United States: The national elder mistreatment study. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2), 292-297. http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.163089
- Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc., Weill Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University. & New York City Department for the Aging. (2011) Under the Radar: New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study. New York: Author.
Nearly ONE in TWO people with dementia experiences some form of abuse by others.
- Cooper, C, Selwood, A,, Blanchard, M., Walker, Z., Blizard, R., & Livingston, G. (2009) Abuse of people with dementia by family carers: Representative cross sectional survey. British Medical Journal, 338, b155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b155
- Wiglesworth A, Mosqueda L, Mulnard R, Liao S, Gibbs L, & Fitzgerald W. (2010). Screening for abuse and neglect of people with dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.58(3), 493-500. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02737.x
Elder abuse is underreported.
The New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study found that for every elder abuse case known to programs and agencies, 23.5 were unknown. In the same study, they examined different types of abuse and found for each case of financial exploitation that reached authorities, 44 cases went unreported. The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse ever comes to the attention of authorities.
- Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc., Weill Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University. & New York City Department for the Aging. (2011) Under the Radar: New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study. New York: Author.
- National Center on Elder Abuse, Westat, Inc. (1998). The national elder abuse incidence study: Final report. Washington D.C.: Authors.
Elder abuse costs our nation billions of dollars each year.
The annual financial loss by victims of elder financial exploitation were estimated to be $2.9 billion in 2009, a 12% increase from 2008.
- National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Virginia Tech, Metlife Mature Market Institute (2011). The Metlife study of elder financial abuse: Crimes of occasion, desperation and predation against America's elders. Westport, CT: Authors.
Older adults who experience elder mistreatment or self-neglect face a greater risk of being hospitalized than other seniors.
Elders who had experienced psychological abuse, physical abuse, caregiver neglect and/or financial exploitation were twice as likely as non-abused elders to be hospitalized. Older adults who reportedly self-neglected were 1.5 times as likely to be hospitalized as other seniors.
- Dong X., Simon M.A.. (2013), Elder Abuse as a Risk Factor for Hospitalization in Older Persons. JAMA Internal Medicine, 173(10):911-917. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.238
- Dong, X., Simon, M. A. and Evans, D. (2012), Elder Self-Neglect and Hospitalization: Findings from the Chicago Health and Aging Project. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 60: 202–209. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03821.x
Survivors of elder mistreatment suffer significantly higher levels of psychological distress than nonvictims. Social support showed a beneficial effect on survivors' psychological distress.
- Comijs, H.C, Penninx, B.W.J.H., Knipscheer, K.P.M., and van Tilburg, W. (1999), Psychological Distress in Victims of Elder Mistreatment: The Effects of Social Support and Coping. Journals of Gerontology B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 54B(4): P240-P245.
Elders who experience mistreatment and self-neglect face a greater risk of dying sooner.
- Lachs MS, Williams CS, O'Brien S, Pillemer KA, Charlson ME. (1998). The mortality of elder mistreatment. Journal of the American Medical Association; 280(5): 428-432. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.280.5.428
More than 41 million Americans are 65 or older, and elders comprise a growing proportion of the U.S. population.
For additional information:
NATIONAL - UNITED STATES
- The Ageless Alliance Action Kit includes videos and documents to strengthen your stand against elder abuse. Please download and freely use these materials in your efforts to combat elder abuse.
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The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Tool Kit contains resources to help you engage your community, educate others, raise awareness about this serious problem, and empower people to action to end elder abuse.
- The National Center for Victims of Crime offers artwork and other tools as part of the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Resource Guide. Past years’ NCVRW materials can be found on the Office for Victims of Crime gallery. Look at materials from 2013, 2009, 2004, and 2003 in particular for images and campaign elements related to older adults.
- National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) created posters, fact sheets, tips for service providers and other materials to honor World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
- “An Age for Justice, Confronting Elder Abuse in America” and 100 Stories video campaign by WITNESS Project and National Council on Aging http://www.ncoa.org/public-policy-action/elder-justice/
STATE/PROVINCE
- “Break the Silence” Illinois Department on Aging’s Office of Elder Rights Elder Abuse Awareness Tool Kit
- “Elder Abuse - It’s Time to Face the Reality” by Government of Alberta, Canada
- “It’s Everyone’s Business!” Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Adult Protective Services (APS)
- “Understanding Senior Abuse” Nova Scotia’s campaign to stop senior abuse
- Ontario Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse (EAPON) Training Tools include a curriculum & guide, workbooks for targeted populations, and gripping Public Service Announcement videos
INTERNATIONAL
- Community Elder Abuse Awareness Tool Kit, funded by the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the Teen Elder Abuse Awareness Kit funded by the Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC) released for WEAAD 2010 are available on the International Federation on Aging website.
- International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) Community Resource Tool Kit
- Elder Abuse Advocacy Toolkit Action on Elder Abuse, United Kingdom and Ireland
FRAUD AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
- National Consumer Protection Council-Senior Fraud Campaign
- National Consumer Protection Council-Crime Prevention Month Kits
- Fraud Center: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Investment Fraud Education: North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
- Federal Trade Commisson offers FREE PDFs and will mail bulk quantities of FTC education materials on topics including identity theft, telemarketing scams, work at home schemes, scams against immigrants, charities. Several of the publications are available in Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
