Join Shelter to Commemorate 2nd Annual World Elder Abuse Day

Naples, FL –The Shelter for Abused Women & Children is joining in the global effort to bring attention to the neglect, mal- or mis-treatment and abuse of elder populations by participating in the second annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and wearing purple on Friday, June 15, 2007.

“Despite a lack of national or even uniform reporting systems, we know that abuse of older individuals has reached epidemic proportions and will only continue to escalate with the graying of America,” explains Shelter Elder Abuse Counselor/Advocate Vickijo Letchworth. “The reality is that up to two million elders are abused, neglected or mistreated by the very individuals who are supposed to care for and protect them, something we find unacceptable.”

Intimate partner violence and abuse of older individuals can include physical, psychological, financial, sexual and verbal abuse, or a combination thereof. Moreover, societal norms, stereotypes and stigmas, as well as health issues, such as declining physical or mental capabilities, play a heavy role in how victims are both perceived and treated when they do disclose the abuse or neglect.

In fact, according to the World Health Organization, a US survey revealed that 36% of nursing home staff report having witnessed at least one incident of elder physical abuse in the past year. Moreover, 40% noted that they psychologically abused patients themselves. ¹

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse: ²

• Between 1 and 2 million Americans aged 65 years or older have been injured, exploited or mistreated by someone on who they depended for care or protection
• Only 1 in 14 incidents of elder abuse in domestic settings, excluding self-neglect, come to the attention of authorities
• There may be at least 5 million cases of financial abuse of elders in America each year

“According to the American Institute on Domestic Violence, the costs of intimate partner abuse are high – from the loss of life to health-related costs of some $5.8 billion annually,” ³ concludes Letchworth. “That’s why we are urging individuals and companies throughout Southwest Florida and across the globe to join us in raising awareness of elder abuse and neglect by wearing purple – the global awareness color for intimate partner abuse – on June 15.”

To learn more about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and to join the cause, please visit www.inpea.net , or email weaad-info@inpea.net.

1 World Health Organization: www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention <http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention> ;

2 Fact Sheet: National Center on Elder Abuse, various studies complied at http://www.elderabusecenter.org/pdf/publication/FinalStatistics050331.pdf;

3 American Institute on Domestic Violence: www.aidv-usa.com/Statistics.htm <http://www.aidv-usa.com/Statistics.htm>

For more information about the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, Options Thrift Shop, as well as programs and services, please call 239-775-3862.

Media Contact:
Mary Ann T. Green, mgreen@naplesshelter.org, 239-775-3862, ext. 211