About
June 15, 2022 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).
The New York State Office for the Aging and New York State Office of Children and Family Services urge the public to join us in raising awareness.
Please prepare now to use some of the social media tools and other resources below on June 15 for #WEAAD2022.
Why Awareness?
Approximately 260,000 older adults are victims of elder abuse each year in New York State. For every reported case, 23.5 cases go unreported.
- Abuse takes several forms: physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; financial exploitation; and neglect (including self-neglect). Abuse is not always easily recognized.
- Older adults who are socially isolated are at increased risk for elder abuse, and COVID-19 has increased the risk.
- There are resources to help, including the non-emergency helpline for concerned individuals who might be worried about a friend or loved at (844) 746-6905. To report abuse, call the Adult Protective Services hotline at 1-844-697-3505.
What You Can Do
- Learn more about the signs and risk factors of elder abuse. Share what you've learned.
- Stay in touch: make a commitment to call and visit a loved one today.
- Wear purple for elder abuse awareness, and use our social media tools on June 15 (below).
Wear Purple Campaign, Social Media, and More
Purple is used nationally each year to raise awareness of elder abuse. Wear purple on June 15 — and see some other suggestions below to grow awareness:
- If you have a business or are a government agency, light your building purple on June 15.
- Wear purple on June 15 and gather with others. Take a picture to show you are mobilizing for World Elder Abuse Awareness.
- For local government organizations or law enforcement, hold a press conference. NYSOFA and OCFS have developed a toolkit with resources to help you plan and organize a media event on June 15.
Use the power of your social media accounts:
- Take a selfie wearing purple and share it. Tag your friends and colleagues. Encourage them to do the same.
- Use our sample social media posts to go with the photos or create your own.
- If you have a personal story, consider sharing it to help others. Talk about it. How was the abuse identified and what resources helped?
- Use hashtags like #elderjustice #elderabuse #WEAAD #WEAAD2022 #ElderAbusePrevention.
Sample Social Media Posts
I'm wearing purple to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. Approximately 260,000 older adults are victims of elder abuse each year in NYS, but many more cases go unreported. Learn more about the signs and risks, get help, and find out how to report abuse at https://aging.ny.gov/programs/elder-abuse.
Today you'll see me wearing purple for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It's my way of reminding friends and loved ones: If you see something, say something. Talk about elder abuse with a loved one. Help advocate for our most vulnerable today. Learn more at https://aging.ny.gov/programs/elder-abuse.
Elder abuse is a hidden tragedy, and the signs are not always easily recognizable. It can include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse but also financial exploitation and neglect – including self-neglect. June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It's our duty to be vigilant. Learn what you can do to help at https://aging.ny.gov/programs/elder-abuse.
Today I'm wearing purple for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse. Bad actors are finding new ways to prey on our most vulnerable, especially during the pandemic. Stay in touch. Ask questions. Look for warning signs: is an older loved one giving away money, changing their spending behavior, talking about financial distress? Learn more and get help today at https://aging.ny.gov/programs/elder-abuse.
I'm wearing purple for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Did you know that financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse? Remember: Never give out your personal information, like your social security number. If a person calls, texts, or emails you unexpectedly from a company or the government asking for financial information, don’t click any links and hang up the phone. You can always use an official, trusted number instead. Help is available. Learn more at https://aging.ny.gov/programs/elder-abuse.
Elder abuse is more common than many people think. Today I am wearing purple to help raise awareness of this hidden tragedy. 1 in 10 older adults are likely to become a victim of elder abuse. It’s everyone’s concern: yours, mine, our community’s. Learn more and act today. Talk to a loved one, stay in touch, watch for the signs. Learn more at https://aging.ny.gov/programs/elder-abuse.
For World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, I’m wearing purple and sharing information to help individuals who may be concerned about a family member, friend, or neighbor impacted by elder abuse. The Elder Abuse Helpline for Concerned Persons is a free and confidential non-emergency helpline at (844) 746-6905. Learn more at https://elderabuse.weill.cornell.edu/programs/elder-abuse-helpline.
Learn More
Learn about elder abuse from the following organizations: