This June 15th, in Prague will mark the 7th annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse is excited to report that this year, the United Nations has officially recognized the day as an International Day. Each year the INPEA contributes to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by providing resource “tool kits” as well as other useful information for those individuals interested raising awareness of abuse. As this is an international day that requires the coordination of many groups, other organizations also play a role in spreading awareness. For instance, the National Center on Elder Abuse provides resources for those individuals interested in this type of activism by including information on how to encourage action to fight elder abuse through existing organizations.
While elder abuse has been recognized as an issue that affects individuals and families internationally, you should know that the prevalence of the issue does not necessarily make it an easy one to address. To explain, because individual states often have varying definitions of what constitutes elder abuse, you’re likely best served by contacting an elder law attorney who’s familiar with your particular state’s definition. Furthermore, each person’s story or experience of elder abuse will vary slightly, so you’ll want to make sure you’re placing your concerns in trusted hands and not simply the hands of a general practitioner or the most affordable guy in town. By contacting a qualified Ohio elder law attorney, you can rest assured you’ve reached out to the right person—someone who’ll take the time needed to carefully review the details of your case as well as address any specific concerns you have regarding the well-being of your loved one.
