PRESQUE ISLE — Hope and Justice Project is commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) by taking the Elder Justice Roadmap Challenge created by the National Center on Elder Abuse. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day will take place on June 15, 2015.
The day serves as a call to action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect and exploitation of elders. The Elder Justice Roadmap was created to provide a resource for strategic planning for working with elders who are victims of abuse and violence.
“Unfortunately, in many cases it is not strangers taking advantage of or harming our elderly citizens, but their own family,” said Michele Kenney, attorney for Legal Services for the Elderly, Inc., in Presque Isle.
“Especially when it’s family, it is difficult for the elderly to reach out for help regardless of if they are being exploited financially or physically or emotionally abused or neglected,” Kenney added. “Because of this it is imperative that the community be observant of these issues and proactive in protecting our elderly.”
Roughly 20 percent of people in Aroostook County are over the age of 65. “We are dealing with a much older population now,” said Pam Palm, a member of the Grant Memorial Methodist Church in Presque Isle and Hope and Justice Project volunteer.
“Elder abuse is one of those issues that needs to be brought to the forefront. If someone is over a certain age, it’s like we ignore them,” Palm said. “Elders need to be seen and they need to be heard.”
Hope and Justice Project encourages other organizations to take the Elder Justice Roadmap challenge at ncea.aoa.gov/Get_Involved/Awareness/WEAAD/index.aspx in order to create an elder-friendly Aroostook County.
Hope and Justice Project works with anyone who has experienced or been affected by abuse or violence in Aroostook County. For more information, visit hopeandjusticeproject.org or email info@hopeandjusticeproject.org. To speak with an advocate, call the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-439-2323. Services are free and confidential.
