The National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER) provides the legal services and aging and disability communities with the tools and resources they need to serve older adults with the greatest economic and social needs. Each year, June 15th is designated as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and NCLER promotes the day as an opportunity to raise awareness of elder abuse in our communities and to support systems, structures, and resources that work to prevent and end elder abuse.
NCLER has suggested steps that can be taken to raise awareness and build supportive networks in your community to prevent and stop elder abuse.
- Identify: Identify national resources to support your local work on elder abuse awareness and prevention. There are many resources available for people wanting to raise awareness about elder abuse and work to end it. Several national organizations provide research, education, and resources free of charge, including:
- National Center on Elder Abuse
- National Center on Law & Elder Rights
- American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
- Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center
- Learn: Learn how to talk about elder abuse in your community. The ways we talk about an issue can impact the responses we receive. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) and Frameworks Institute have education, tips, and resources on how to reframe the conversation about elder abuse. You can also sign up for a monthly e-mail with tips on reframing elder abuse.
- Network: Network with local community partners to identify available resources and raise awareness. If you haven’t already, identifying resources in your community that support older adults is an important step toward ending elder abuse. Starting a conversation about how community partners can work together to create healthier and safer communities for older adults is key to preventing and ending elder abuse. Here are some available resources to support you in networking with community partners:
- Outreach Calendar with suggested themes and events to bring community partners together and raise awareness
- Locate an Elder Justice Network near you
- Plan: Plan a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) event or campaign or join one near you. Look for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day celebrations near you. If there is not an event near you, consider planning your own event—virtual, in-person, or both. Purple is the recognized color for elder abuse awareness. The National Center on Elder Abuse provides many resources for creating and advertising a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day offers everyone an opportunity to raise awareness of elder abuse in their communities and to come together to discuss ways to prevent and stop abuse in later life. There are numerous resources available to explore the history of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, organize local events, and learn more about elder abuse and how to talk about it within our communities. As we work to build a strong system of supports for older adults, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is a time to come together and work for elder justice.