For Immediate Release: 5/30/07

Naples, FL – The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, in conjunction with the Mayor of Naples; Naples City Council; Collier County Housing & Human Services and Parks & Recreation Departments; and The Hospices of Naples, Immokalee, Marco Island are collaborating to bring attention to the neglect, mal- or mis-treatment and abuse of elder populations by hosting local events as part of the second annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Friday, June 15, 2007, as organized by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA).

As part of this global initiative, Naples Mayor Bill Barnett will make his World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Proclamation during the Wednesday morning City Council Meeting on June 13, 2007. This will be followed on Friday, June 15, with an event hosted by the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, The Hospices of Naples, Immokalee, Marco Island; as well as the Collier County Housing & Human Services and Parks & Recreation Departments, and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Senior Crime Assistance Unit from 3 to 4 p.m. at the East Naples Community Center – Senior Activity Center located at 3500 Thomasson Drive in Naples.

“Between one and two million Americans aged 65 years or older have been injured, exploited or mistreated by someone they love and/or are dependent on for care and protection,” explains Shelter Elder Abuse Advocate Vickijo Letchworth. “These are our parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors… it’s critical that we work together to not only raise awareness about abuse and neglect of our elders, but also educate the community about available assistance and support for victims and those who truly do care for them.”

Intimate partner violence and abuse of older individuals takes on many forms and can include physical, financial, psychological, sexual and verbal abuse, or a combination thereof. 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.

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

• 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

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. For more information on the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, including programs and services, please call 239-775-3862, or visit www.naplesshelter.org

24 hour emergency crisis line: 239-775-1101

For more information on The Hospices of Naples, Immokalee, Marco Island, please visit: www.hospiceofnaples.org

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The Shelter for Abused Women & Children helps adult and child victims and survivors of domestic violence through safety, intervention and support; educates the public about domestic violence; and advocates for social change against domestic violence. For more information, please contact us at 239-775-3862, or visit us online at: www.naplesshelter.org

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

1 World Health Organization: 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