Elder Abuse: Prevention, Vulnerability, Awareness and Education

Victims of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation are three times more
likely to die at an earlier age.

COMMON FORMS
OF ABUSE

Many people mistakenly assume that only battered paople are abused.

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Dr. Margaret Mead

Gary A. Jones

When Gary Jones became sick with terminal cancer, his caregiver denied him visitation with his children.

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Gary Jones Association elder abuse overview.

Unlike domestic violence and child abuse, elder abuse has not spurred the same outcry from society, even though it touches between 1 million and 2 million Americans each year. Additionally, despite the rapid rise in elder abuse, it's a cause that struggles to receive funding. According to the Congressional Research Service, the federal government sends approximately $153.5 million per year to states for elder abuse prevention efforts. By comparison, $6.7 billion is spent to fight child abuse.

Abuse of the elderly is expected to rise in parallel with the aging population, bringing the national crisis of elder abuse into the spotlight. In fact, according to the Census Bureau, the number of people ages 65 to 74 will grow 107% by 2030.

Right now, according to the MetLife Demographic Profile of American Baby Boomers, more than 32 million baby boomers are over age 50. And by the year 2030, the baby boomers will be ages 66-84, making up about 20 percent of the total population.

As the cycle of abuse continues, it's important the general population becomes informed about of the various forms of elder abuse. Every American should be able to recognize signs of abuse so they can help facilitate intervention.