Our newsletter has gone purple in support of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15!

June 2015
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June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Today, for the first time in history, people age 65 and older outnumber children under age 5. Each day, more than 10,000 Americans turn 65. This trend will continue for the next 20 years. At the same time that the population is growing, we know that a startling number of older adults face abusive conditions. Every year an estimated 5 million, or 1 in 10, older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. 

 

Anyone can be a victim of elder abuse - your neighbor, a loved one, maybe even you. On June 15 - and every day - it's important to know the signs of abuse and how to report suspected cases of abuse.  And we encourage everyone to join Council on Aging staff in wearing purple to raise awareness of the impact and problem of elder abuse.  Visit our Facebook page on June 15 for pictures of our staff wearing purple in support of this important cause.  

 

Click here to learn more about the warning signs of abuse, how to report suspected abuse, and the status of the Adult Protective Service system in Ohio.  
Elder Abuse Resources
There are many local, statewide, and national resources that offer information about and support for victims of elder abuse, frauds and scams.  Click the links below for more information. 

Official WEAAD Website: Visit the National Center on Elder Abuse and Administration on Community Living's joint WEAAD website.  Join the movement, get involved, learn the facts.

Ohio Attorney General: In 2009, the Attorney General's Elder Abuse Commission was established to improve education efforts, boost research, and raise awareness. The Commission will provide a forum for improving elder justice throughout the state in addition to identifying funding, programming needs, and finding solutions.

Pro Seniors:  This local non-profit organization operates a free legal hotline, the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, and a crime victims' assistance program, among others.

The Elder Justice Initiative: Through this new resource, victims and family members will find information about how to report elder abuse and financial exploitation in all 50 states and territories. Simply enter your zipcode to find local resources to assist you.  The website, a service of the US Department of Justice, also offers tools and information for practitioners and law enforcement personnel.

National Center on Elder Abuse: Part of the US Administration on Aging, the NCEA offers data, FAQs and countless other educational resources on the topic of elder abuse.  NCEA has also compiled a list of government reports and testimony on 
elder abuse and related topics. 

The United Nations: The global population of people aged 60 years and older will more than double, from 542 million in 1995 to about 1.2 billion in 2025. Around 4 to 6% of elderly people have experienced some form of maltreatment at home.  Learn more about the global problem of elder abuse from the United Nations. 
Aging & Disability Resource Network Updates
Ohio issues new guardianship rules
New rules went into effect June 1 that provide added protections for the more than 67,000 people who are served by court-appointed guardians in Ohio.  

A special report, released in May by the Columbus Dispatch, uncovered widespread abuse and neglect in the state's guardianship system.  

The new rules apply to both paid and volunteer guardians. Learn more
Watch Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame ceremony online
Springdale resident John Hughes and eight other deserving Ohioans were inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame on May 18.  Click here to watch the induction ceremony.
Ohio's Summer Crisis Program begins July 1
For low-income older adults and people with disabilities or chronic health conditions, staying cool and comfortable during the summer months can have a significant impact on their health and well-being.   Help is available through Ohio's HEAP Summer Crisis Program (SCP).   Learn more
Council on Aging Updates
COA issues 2014 Elderly Services Program annual reports
Elderly Services Programs in Butler, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties provided care for more than 12,000 older adults in 2014 at an average cost of $316 per month.  

The programs are supported by senior services tax levies in each county and administered by Council on Aging under contract with county commissioners. 

Using program data and personal stories, the reports provide information about who the programs serve, services provided, and the cost of services.  Click here to access reports for each county. 
Upcoming Events and Learning Opportunities
Visit the Events page on our website for a complete, up-to-date list of events for adults, caregivers and professionals.  Unless otherwise noted, the following events are NOT in any way affiliated with Council on Aging.  Please use the links included with each event to get or request additional information. 
ADA 25th anniversary celebration is July 27

The Silver Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act will be celebrated on Fountain Square on Monday, July 27, 2015! Exhibitors and activities will begin at 10am; speakers, entertainers, advocates, and officials will gather from 11:30am - 1:30pm in celebration of the ADA Anniversary. Council on Aging is a sponsor.  
Social Work Seminar on Diabetes - CEUs available | June 16, 2015 | Mayerson JCC | Registration required.  Click here for details
 
2015 African American Caregiver Forum - Free | June 30, 2015 | Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency | Registration required.   Click here for details 

25th Anniversary ADA Celebration | July 27, 2015 | Fountain Square, Downtown Cincinnati | Click here for details 

Community Paramedicine Conference | August 20, 2015 | Maple Knoll Village |  Click here for details

Disaster Preparedness Fair | August 22, 2015 | Cincinnati Red Cross |  Click here for details

Resource Directory Tip
Know how and where to report elder abuse
Each year millions of older persons are abused, neglected, and exploited. Many victims are people who are older, frail, and vulnerable and cannot help themselves and depend on others to meet their most basic needs. Abusers of older adults are both women and men, and may be family members, friends, or "trusted others."

We know that Elder Abuse is an underreported problem. Experts believe that for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported, as many as 23.5 cases go unreported. Be alert.  If you notice changes in a senior's personality or behavior, you should start to question what is going on. Remember, it is not your role to verify that abuse is occurring, only to alert others of your suspicions.  
About Council on Aging

Council on Aging is a state-designated Area Agency on Aging, serving a 21-county region.  Our mission: Enhance people's lives by assisting them to remain independent at home through a range of quality services. One call to COA links people to the wide variety of agencies, information and programs that serve older adults and people with disabilities.   Learn more about COA

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