World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched at the United Nations on June 15th, 2006. This is an international effort to raise awareness within the global community about elder abuse. WEAAD serves as a call to action for our communities to educate people about abuse, neglect, and the exploitation of seniors. Elder abuse is a crime in the United States that is largely unrecognized or unreported. It is estimated that 1 in 10 seniors, ages 60+, has been victimized by some form of elder abuse. As many as 1 in 5 seniors have been the victims of financial exploitation. Elder abuse can take many forms, including neglect, and is not always easy to recognize. On Scam Squad, we often talk about scams that involve the financial exploitation of seniors. To report a case of elder abuse, please contact Adult Protective Services; reports can be made anonymously. Please due your part to prevent elder abuse.
