CLEARFIELD – Wednesday is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, along with other agencies across this Nation, will participate to raise awareness of Elder Abuse.
The agency will be planting Pinwheels for Prevention at its office on North Front Street the week of June 13.
The U.S. Administration on Aging estimates that as many as one in 10 older Americas are abused and neglected each year. The agency will plant over 350 pinwheels to represent calls of alleged abuse received at its office over the past year.
Elder abuse can be emotional, financial, physical, caregiver neglect and sexual in nature. It also includes older adults who neglect themselves.
Older adults that are abused are more likely to be hospitalized, four times as likely to go to a nursing home, and three times likely to die.
Abuse can happen in any setting – in the older adult’s own home, nursing homes, or personal care homes. Abusers can be family members, trusted professional or complete strangers.
If you suspect abuse, please call the state’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-490-8505. Abuse reports can be made on behalf of an older adult whether that person lives in their home or in a care facility such as a nursing home, personal care home, or a caregiver’s home.
Reporters may remain anonymous and have legal protection from retaliation, discrimination, and civil or criminal prosecution.
Programs and services of the agency are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Mature Resources Foundation, local and consumer contributions.