2008 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15, 2008. This is an excellent opportunity to share information about abuse, neglect, and exploitation in later life. It serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Please help raise the awareness of elder abuse by wearing something purple on June 15th to symbolize your commitment to this great cause!

Elder Abuse Is a Serious Problem
Every person-no matter how young or how old-deserves to be safe from harm by those who live with them, care for them, or come in day-to-day contact with them.
Older people today are more visible, more active, and more independent than ever before. They are living longer and in better health. But as the population of older Americans grows, so does the hidden problem of elder abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
• Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect. Those statistics may not tell the whole story.
• For every case of elder abuse and neglect that is reported to authorities, experts estimate that there may be as many as five cases that have not been reported.
• The eldest of our seniors, 80 years and older, are abused and neglected at 2-3 times the proportion of all other senior citizens.
• 90% of elder abuse and neglect incidents are by known perpetrators, usually family members, 2/3rds are adult children or spouses. 42% of murder victims over 60 were killed by their own offspring. Spouses were the perpetrators in 24% of family murders of persons over 60

Take a Stand

Domestic violence homicides in Broward County are on the rise. Since December 2007 there have been ten domestic violence homicides. According to Broward Sheriff’s Office, Broward County has seen a 300% increase in domestic related homicides against women since last year. This number is frightening. Our community is suffering from these tragedies. Innocent lives were taken; batterers need to be held accountable for their actions. As a community we cannot stand for this behavior any longer.

Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of coercive behaviors in a relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Domestic violence can take many forms such as physical, emotional, verbal, and/or economic. Domestic violence knows no boundaries; it can happen to anyone, regardless of race, color, gender, age, or socioeconomic background.

It is up to each of you to stand up against domestic violence. As a community we can combat domestic violence in Broward County.

The Starfish Story...

Over 300 people are anticipated to join Women In Distress of Broward County to raise funds for victims of domestic violence and recognize special honorees at the Second Annual Starfish Luncheon.

The origin of the starfish theme came from a popular legend retold through many different versions, one of which is as follows:

A young girl and her grandmother were walking down the beach. It was a beautiful afternoon and the tide had pulled back leaving many starfish stranded on the sand. The girl began picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. Her grandmother said, “Why do you run about? There are hundreds of starfish and you can’t possibly save them all.” Her granddaughter stopped, looked carefully at the starfish in her hand and, as she threw it back into the water, said, “Maybe not, Grandma, but I can save this one!”

Making a difference one person at a time.