County marks ‘Elder Abuse Awareness Day’
The Clinton Chapter 2461 AARP met in April at the Clin- ton Community Center with Cherie Phillips as the guest speaker. Shown is the Board members with Carolyn Martin, president, presenting a check for $200 to the Anderson County Senior Center.
Together, Frank, Clark and Barker have issued a joint proclamation marking this Saturday (June 15) as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Anderson County, joining our law enforcement community and other service providers in protecting the well-being of our vulnerable adults and senior citizens.
Approximately 1 in 10 older Americans, age 60 and older, have experienced some form of elder abuse in their lives.
And, with older Americans accounting for approximately 15.2 percent of this country’s population, more and more senior citizens could be subjected to some form of elder abuse, which consists of any of the following: physical, sexual or emotional abuse; confinement; passive neglect; willful deprivation; and financial exploitation.
“Our senior citizens have a lot to offer our communities and our families, enriching all our lives with their diverse life experiences. They deserve our support and protection. I’m honored to join with DA Clark and Sheriff Barker in raising awareness for this important issue,” Mayor Frank said.
In addition to the joint proclamation, Anderson County is recognizing Elder Abuse Awareness Day throughout the weekend by lighting the exterior of the Courthouse overnight, Friday through Sunday, in the color purple in recognition of support for our vulnerable adults and senior citizens.
If you suspect abuse in an older adult’s life, you can report it to local law enforcement or file a complaint with the State of Tennessee division of adult protective services at reportadultabuse.dhs.tn.gov or call 1-888-277-8366.