Alinea would like to acknowledge World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – commemorated every 15 June to highlight the blight of elder abuse.
Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust such as a family member or friend. The abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect.
In many parts of the world elder abuse occurs with little recognition or response. It is a global social issue which affects the health, well-being, independence and human rights of millions of older people around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of all in the community.
Thankfully, efforts to stamp it have been made by law enforcement, social service agencies, the private sector, and nonprofits (and working in tandem) but more needs to be done and is being done.
