June 15th marks the 3rd Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, an event heralded by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. This NGO is affiliated with the UN and committed to increasing public awareness, education, and training of professionals in the identification and treatment of abuse, advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected elders, and stimulating research into this preventable
social and human rights issue. A two-day global conference will be held in Ottawa (Canada) on June 16-17 to focus on learning and understanding about elder abuse and the 1991 UN Principles for Older Persons.

Abuse of the elderly is something that happens all around the world, whether that be within a care home or from a relative/carer, it is harrowing and worrying for the elderly and the family members who are not aware. If abuse does come to light then family members can go for conservatorship/guardianship to protect their relatives who are unable to care for themselves and need to be properly looked after. This will come with some legalities that will need to be sorted out through legal firms like Denver guardianship attorneys, Evans Case LLP, for example, to deal with reports, court appearings, etc. that will happen when this comes into effect. Abuse should never be accepted and that is why awareness is incredibly important to make more people stand up and stop this from happening.

The first Awareness Day in 2006 involved several hundred organizations and governmental bodies at international, national, regional, local, community and neighborhood levels, in every continent in the world. The day is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action, which recognizes the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. Governments, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, religious groups, professionals in the field of aging, and interested individuals will promote a better understanding of the abuse and neglect of older persons by organizing activities around the world to raise awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. 

Visit www.inpea.net to register for the event or download a Resource Toolkit.