CLEARFIELD – Friday, June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
The Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc., along with other agencies across the nation, will participate to raise awareness of elder abuse.
The agency will be planting Pin Wheels for Prevention at its office at 103 N. Front St., in Clearfield the week of June 11.
The U.S. Administration on Aging estimates that as many as 1 in 10 older Americans are abused and neglected each year.
The agency will plant over 350 pinwheels to represent calls of alleged abuse received at the agency 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 more 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 Pennsylvania Department of Aging’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, and local and consumer contributions.
