CBES Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Elder Abuse Awareness Walk on Boston Common on June 15

Sponsored by Central Boston Elder Services, Ethos, Boston Senior Home Care, on Worldwide Elder Abuse Awareness Day

 Speakers include MA Elder Affairs Sec. Elizabeth Chen, AG Andrea Campbell, DA Kevin Hayden

 Central Boston Elder Services will join its partners in the aging services network on June 15, globally marked as “Elder Abuse Awareness Day,” to bring concerned residents of all ages and local dignitaries together on the historic Boston Common to focus attention on the dangers of mistreatment, exploitation and neglect of older adults.

The Annual CBES Elder Abuse Awareness Day Walk will take place from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on June 15 around the Boston Common. The event will begin with a short speaking program at the Common’s Parkman Bandstand at 10:00 AM, followed by a one-mile walk around the Boston Common.

CBES, Ethos, and Boston Senior Home Care are working together to highlight the abuse of our most vulnerable residents that often goes unnoticed. Globally, about one in six people aged 60 and above have faced some form of abuse in recent years, according to the World Health Organization. Abuse of older people is a social problem affecting the health and human rights of millions of older adults worldwide. Rates of abuse of older people increased during the COVID19 pandemic.

In the U.S., one in 10, or approximately five million older adults, are subject to abuse every year, according to the National Institutes on Aging. The types of abuse include physical, emotional, neglect and self-neglect, abandonment, sexual, and financial abuse.

Joining the walk and providing remarks are Dr. Elizabeth Chen, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and Suffolk County DA Kevin R. Hayden.

“World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is a time for us to pause and reach a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older people,” said Secretary Chen. “The most common problem we see is self-neglect.  This includes failure to obtain adequate food, clothing, shelter, or health care for one’s own needs. As we continue to come out of the pandemic, we all need to continue to check on the older adults in our lives – our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.”

Sylvia Exantus, Executive Director, CBES, said: “As a society, we must do whatever it takes to stop elder abuse.  On this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEEAD), let us redouble our efforts to do whatever it takes to help our elders age in place with dignity and respect. They deserve nothing less than that. Central Boston Elder Services is committed to this cause.  Thank you to all our elected officials, dignitaries, and community partners for walking with us in support of this particularly important issue.”

“Elder abuse and neglect keep our most experienced citizens from fully participating in the life of our communities,” said Valerie Frias, CEO of Ethos. “We’re walking to inspire community members to learn the signs of elder abuse, prevent isolation by checking in on our older loved ones and to support organizations that fight elder abuse and exploitation.”

“Elder abuse is a national crisis that affects all of us,” said Margaret Hogan, CEO, Boston Senior Home Care. “We must do everything we can to help raise awareness and provide the resources needed to protect vulnerable older adults from those who would harm them.”

Alicia M. Gomez, COO, BSHC, expanded on that mission. “Aging will inevitably happen to all of us,” said Gomez. “But being mistreated by abuse and neglect should not be part of that process. Preventing abuse will not happen on its own. We need to continue to bring awareness to this serious issue through continued public education and the strength of our caring community.”

Protective Services at CBES

Central Boston Elder Protective Services Program staff members work to bring awareness and alleviation of difficulties for elders who are being abused, neglected, and financially exploited. This program partners with other diverse organizations in the City of Boston in solving problems and improving the quality of care and services for our most vulnerable population. Staff members also work to raise public awareness of elder abuse through education and advocacy.

Our goal is to efficiently and effectively respond to the needs of elderly people who are victims of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation and to prevent such abuse whenever possible.

If you see something, say something, and make a Protective Services Report! Elder Abuse reports can be filed 24 hours a day either online or by phone at (800) 922-2275.