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Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services participates in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

June 23, 2015

 

The Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services participated in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15th by wearing purple ribbons, wristbands supplied by the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Kathie Gately, and clothing. Nine years ago the Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations launched WEADD due to the alarming rate of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation experienced every year by an estimated 5 million older Americans.

In Arkansas ages 60 or older are more likely than other adults to be abused, neglected or financially exploited. In state fiscal year 2014, Adult Protective Services investigated 3,685 allegations of abuse, neglect or forms of maltreatment. Of the 3,685 total allegations investigated, 2,570 (69.7%) involved alleged older victims.  Those numbers are just regarding seniors in the community.