June 15, 2020 is
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. On that day, communities in the USA and all
over the world will sponsor events to highlight solutions to this systemic social
challenge. The Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging is proud to participate in
this national conversation.
As Americans,
we believe in justice for all. Yet we fail to live up to this promise when we allow
older members of our society to be abused or neglected.
Older people are vital, contributing members of American society and
their maltreatment diminishes all of us. Just as we have confronted and
addressed the social issues of child abuse and domestic violence, so too can we
find solutions to address issues like elder abuse, which also threatens the
well-being of our community.
Our policies
and practices make it hard for older people to stay involved with and connected
to our communities as they age. As a result, older people are more likely to
experience social isolation, which increases the likelihood of abuse and
neglect. We can design stronger societal supports to keep our older people connected
and protect them from abuse, whether financial, emotional, physical or sexual. When
we address a root cause, like social isolation, we also make it less likely
that people will become neglected. Older adults who are socially connected and
protected from harm are less likely to be hospitalized, less likely to go into
nursing homes and less likely to die
prematurely. During this COVID-19 crisis the challenges of
vulnerable adults is magnified. We are
seeing scams and abuses magnified with the stressors brought on by COVID-19.
To learn more
about ways to volunteer or support the work to ensure that our older neighbors
are safe and well cared for visit our website at nekcouncil.org or call and
join the conversation at 802-748-5812. Together, we can make a difference.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Meg Burmeister
Executive Director
Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging
Here is some important information regarding the prevention of scams that target seniors:
https://www.ncoa.org/economic-security/money-management/scams-security/top-10-scams-targeting-seniors/
