World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15
Every year, at least one in 10 older adults experiences elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Moreover, researchers estimate that, for every reported case of elder abuse, another 23.5 cases go unreported. Social workers play essential roles in preventing, identifying, and addressing elder abuse.
That’s why every action by every individual is needed to end elder abuse in the United States. On June 15, join NASW in commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), an observance begun by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) and the World Health Organization at the United Nations.
- Download the Administration on Aging’s WEAAD Tool Kit and visit the INPEA’s WEAAD Resource Library for information and outreach ideas.
- Post a message to NASW’s blog, Facebook page, or Twitter account, letting your social work colleagues know what you and your organization are doing to promote WEAAD.
Resources
Administration on Aging/Administration for Community Living:
Elder Justice Coordinating Council
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
National Center on Elder Abuse
National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative
Prevention of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation program
NASW Press:
Encyclopedia of Social Work (20th ed.) article: Elder Abuse (Rathbone-McCuan, 2008)
Social work speaks (9th ed.) policy statement: Aging and Wellness (2012)
NASW Specialty Practice Sections:
Webinar, The Complexities of Elder Abuse (Anetzberger, 2010)
Articles on elder abuse (Hong, 2011; Graziano, 2008; Cross, 2007)
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging hearings on elder abuse:
Tax-Related Identity Theft (2013)
Phone Fraud (2013)
Elder Financial Abuse (2012)
Pension Fraud (2012)
Elder Abuse, Neglect, & Financial Exploitation (2011)
Other Elder Justice Resources
Elder Justice Coalition, of which NASW is a member
Government Accountability Office (GAO) 2011 report on elder justice
GAO 2011 survey of Adult Protective Services program administrators
Institute of Medicine 2013 workshop summary on elder abuse
National Adult Protective Services Association and National APS Resource Center
National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life
National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
Chris Herman, MSW, LICSW
NASW Senior Practice Associate
