Forsyth County Commissioners passed a resolution last week recognizing June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Commissioner Fleming El-Amin presented the resolution to Social Services staff and Senior Services CEO Lee Covington. Staff also placed pinwheels in front of the Social Services building on June 8 representing the 350 Adult Protective Services calls that DSS received last year. Every year, an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. For every case of elder abuse or neglect that is reported, it’s estimated as many as five cases are not.
This year's Piedmont Triad World Elder Abuse Awareness Walk will be June 18 at Triad Park, 9652 E. Mountain St., in Kernersville. Registration and a vendor fair will start at 9 a.m. The opening ceremony and walk kick-off will be at 10:30 a.m.
For more information on the event (including a registration link), visit: https://www.ptrc.org/services/area-agency-on-aging/elder-abuse-awareness-walk
The county’s Adult Protective Services provides protection services for disabled adults 18 and over who are alleged to be abused, neglected or exploited. The majority of cases that are referred to Adult Protective Services involve elderly disabled individuals.
The Adult Protective Services intake line is (336) 703-3503.
For information about how to recognize and report abuse, visit: https://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/dss/adult_protect.aspx