“March Against Elder Abuse” events to be held in Plymouth and Brockton in June

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is June 15th and “March Against Elder Abuse” events will be held in Brockton and Plymouth, MA.

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), in partnership with the Brockton Council on Aging, the Plymouth Center for Active Living, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, and the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office will hold two FREE one-mile marches to raise awareness of elder abuse in June.

Brockton March Against Elder Abuse will be held Thursday, June 12, 2025 from 11am to 2pm beginning at the Brockton Council on Aging (COA), 10 Father Kenney Way, Brockton. Registration begins at 10:30 am. Join us for a March down Main Street with a brief stop at OCES and back to the COA for lunch and award presentations. Registration is required. To register, call the COA at 508-580-7811 or visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/hwsyy7w?mode=preview&source_id=11acad85-5e3d-4587-a47b-48e8c4cd883d&source_type=em&c=

Plymouth March Against Elder Abuse will be held Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 11am to 2pm beginning at the Tavern on the Wharf, 6 Town Wharf, Plymouth. Registration begins at 10:30 am. Join us for a March down Main Street (in downtown Plymouth) followed by a light lunch and award presentations. Registration is required. To register, visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/brzkg8s?mode=preview&source_id=11acad85-5e3d-4587-a47b-48e8c4cd883d&source_type=em&c=
March Against Elder Abuse events are part of OCES’ WEAAD campaign. These critical events aim to raise awareness about the devastating impacts of elder abuse and promote a safer, more supportive environment for older adults in our community.

“One in 10 older adults aged 60+ have experienced some form of elder abuse according to the National Center on Elder Abuse,” said Teresa Kourtz, LSW, MSG, OCES’ Protective Services Director. “Elder abuse is known as a ‘silent problem’. It is estimated that only 1 in 14 cases are reported, which is why raising awareness of elder abuse and its signs are so important.”

March Against Elder Abuse events are sponsored by Abbott Home Health Care, Inc.  For more information about our sponsor, visit https://www.abbottcare.com/

In addition to March Against Elder Abuse events, other ways to get involved include: sponsorship of these events; sharing educational materials with your networks to raise awareness; and by making a donation to support OCES’ Protective Service Department in advocating for and assisting older adults.

Recognizing Elder Abuse
Elder abuse includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation. According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging and Independence , 43,617 elder abuse reports were received during Fiscal Year 2024.

OCES’ Protective Services Program staff works with older adults, or their designees, to prevent, eliminate, or remedy situations involving elder abuse. When a report is made to the Centralized Intake Unit (Elder Abuse Hotline) and the elder resides in our service area, OCES will receive the report and determine if further investigation by a Protective Services Worker is necessary.

If you have concerns, please contact your local Protective Services Agency. To report elder abuse, contact the Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-922-2275.

To learn more about WEAAD, visit https://elderjustice.usc.edu/weaad-home/

OCES is recognized as one of the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing. OCES has been certified as a woman non-profit organization (W/NPO) by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). For more than 50 years, OCES has been a private, nonprofit organization with locations in Brockton and Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 23 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and proudly serves Plymouth County and surrounding communities.

Through the talent of an experienced and diverse workforce, OCES supports the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy, safe living which positively impacts our community. The agency offers several programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561