World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched on June 15, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. In addition, WEAAD is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

NCEA Joins AoA in Inviting You to Take a Stand Against Elder Abuse and Protect Seniors

Each year on or around June 15, communities and municipalities around the world plan activities and programs to recognize WEAAD. We encourage you to join others around the nation and world in observing WEAAD by carrying out activities such as:

Attending or organizing a World Day event
Visiting an older neighbor who lives alone
Volunteering for a program that benefits seniors
Organizing a fundraiser to support a local abuse prevention initiative

What Are You Doing to Recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day?

Communities around the world are planning events and activities for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2013. To help spread the word about what is going on in the U.S., the NCEA is collecting reports from individuals and organizations about what they’re planning this year. Let the NCEA know what you, your organization, and community are doing this year to raise awareness about elder abuse!

For ideas to help inspire your plans for WEAAD, check out the WEAAD Event Map to see what others are planning around the country, the links in the “Resources” section below, or visit our Raise Awareness page for materials that you can use.

Resources

Learn about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Events in Washington, DC, June 2012.

Read about past WEAAD events in past issues of the NCEA E-Newsletter:

The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, the organization that first established WEAAD in 2006, provides many resources for this global observance including a calendar of activities scheduled throughout the world. The NCEA joins INPEA in pursuing these goals for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day:

Empowering Elders to exercise their rights and advocate on their own behalf
Raising Awareness of Elder Abuse among older persons and the general population
Educating Professionals and the Lay Public to acknowledge older persons’ contributions to society, and to recognize and report abuse
Encouraging Intergenerational Relationships to the benefit of all

For information, tools, and resources to support efforts to raise public awareness about elder abuse and to help in planning a World Day event, visit the Year of Elder Abuse Prevention page on the AoA website, check out other national campaigns, or visit the Awareness Materials page for additional resources.