DEAR ABBY: Today, June 15, is World Elder Abuse Day. On this day, communities all over the USA and the world will sponsor events to shed light on the growing and tragic issue of elder abuse.
Your readers, young and old, should be aware that the U.S. Administration on Aging estimates that as many as 5 million seniors are abused each year in the United States. And this is only the tip of the iceberg, since only an estimated one in five cases of abuse is ever reported to the authorities.
Elder abuse can be financial, physical, emotional or sexual, and it also includes people who are neglected. But elder abuse is preventable -- public awareness and education can help people learn the warning signs. For more information on what readers can do to join the fight against elder abuse, visit www.centeronelderabuse.org.
Thank you, Abby, for all you do to help keep our seniors safe. -- LAURA MOSQUEDA, M.D., GERIATRICS, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT IRVINE
DEAR DR. MOSQUEDA: If publicizing your message and your website will help some of these vulnerable hidden victims, I am more than pleased to help.
Readers, the elderly -- unlike child victims of abuse -- can slip through the cracks because too often they become invisible. Either they drop out of sight, or no one suspects what is going on until it is too late. Old people have been found stashed in garages, suffering from bed sores, malnourished and lying in their own waste. If you suspect abuse, please report it so it can be investigated. All you have to do is call Adult Protective Services. Every state has an agency that provides this.