World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15th. “March Against Elder Abuse” events to be held in Brockton and Plymouth.

OCES in partnership with the Brockton Council on Aging (COA), Plymouth County Sheriff's Department and Plymouth County District Attorney's Office will hold a FREE March to increase awareness of elder abuse. Registration will be at 10:30 a.m. and the short March will begin at 11 a.m. at the COA, 1 Feinberg Way, Brockton, then proceed around Belmont Street and back. Lunch will follow at the Shaw’s Center. Registration is required. To register, please call the Brockton COA at 508-580-7811 or register online at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/pksmemn

OCES in partnership with the Plymouth Center for Active Living, Plymouth County District Attorney and the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department will hold a FREE one-mile March along the Plymouth waterfront to raise awareness of elder abuse. Please gather for the March at 10:30 a.m. outside Tavern on the Wharf, 6 Town Wharf, Plymouth. The March will begin at 11 a.m. proceeding down Water Street then back to Tavern on the Wharf for a light lunch. Off-street metered parking is available. To register, please call Terri Kourtz, 508-584-1561 ext. 255 or register online at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/v39ytqy

“Every year an estimated 1 in 10 older adults experience elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation according to the National Council on Aging,” said Teresa Kourtz, LSW, MSG, OCES’ Protective Services Director. “Elder abuse is known as a ‘silent problem’ which is why raising awareness of elder abuse and its signs are so important. We encourage the community to join us at these events to increase awareness and help to end elder abuse.”

Elder abuse includes physical, emotional, neglect, self-neglect, financial exploitation, and sexual abuse. According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, 40,127 elder abuse reports were received during Fiscal Year 2023. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living stated that an estimated five million older adults are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation every year. One in 10 adults aged 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse. Common risk factors for elder abuse are social isolation, poor physical health, and dementia. Nationally, at least $36.5 billion annually is lost by victims of financial abuse according to the National Council on Aging.

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 catchment 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. If you want to file a report on elder abuse, please contact the Centralized Intake Unit (Elder Abuse Hotline) at 1-800-922-2275.

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