For Immediate Release:
June 13, 2007

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

June 15 Designated as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Get out your purple on June 15 for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) encourages all Missourians to join the rest of the world in wearing purple that day to raise awareness of elder abuse and the need for efforts to prevent it.

The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) declared June 15 as awareness day for the second year. The day also supports the United Nations International Plan of Action, which recognizes the significance of elder abuse as a universal public health and human rights issue. “Elder abuse is largely treated as an unspoken problem,” said Jane Drummond, director of DHSS. “No community or country in the world is immune from the mistreatment of older adults.”

For older people, the consequences of abuse can be especially serious because their bones are more brittle and recuperation takes longer. Even a relatively minor injury can cause serious and permanent damage.

In Missouri, the Department receives and investigates reports of abuse and neglect of the elderly and disabled. In fiscal year 2006, DHSS received 16,395 reports. Though this number is on the rise, the crime is vastly underreported because of the emotional bond between victim and perpetrator. Often seniors and disabled persons are socially isolated and physically and emotionally dependent on the perpetrator—likely a son, daughter, or caregiver—making it nearly impossible for them to report for fear of being institutionalized.

Of the 16,395 reports DHSS received in 2006, a little over 10 percent involved financial exploitation. Financial exploitation occurs when there is an illegal use of an elderly or disabled adult’s resources for another person’s gain.  Nationwide, financial exploitation is the third most frequent type of abuse of seniors and persons with disabilities.

Anyone who suspects a senior or disabled Missourian is being abused, neglected or exploited should call DHSS’ toll-free hotline, 1-800-392-0210.