GREENSBORO, N.C. — When you hear or see the words 'elder abuse' I think your mind immediately goes to a physical situation. But more often than not the abuse is financial.
"The abuse of older adults often are scams, fraud, and financial exploitation. The thing about older adults, is they are very trusting, and now with so many things you receive on email and phone calls, they con people into giving away their money," said Mark Hensley, Associate State Director, Community Outreach, AARP NC.
AARP says elder financial exploitation in the U.S. amounts to more than $28 billion each year. Sadly, the majority of the losses come from people the person over 60 years old knows, versus $8 billion from stranger incidents. How do you combat a lot of this? Education and awareness.
June 15, 2024, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Here in the Triad, AARP and other sponsors are putting on the Triad Elder Abuse Awareness event at Triad Park in Kernersville. Starting at 9 am, there will be vendors set up and music. The opening ceremony and the walk is at 10:30 am on that Saturday, June 15.
The event also includes a free shred of documents and a medication disposal drop-off. Vendors will be there set up to help educate folks and their families on age-appropriate issues.
"Shredding your documents is the best way to protect yourself from having that sensitive financial information get out to the wrong place. These vendors and this event is all about a heightened awareness of all the resources, and services in the Triad that strive every day to protect older adults and their families," said Hensley.