Elder Abuse Detection and Prevention
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
The statistics about elder abuse tell a troubling story. About five million seniors suffer from some form of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation each year, and older Americans lose more than $2.6 billion annually because of these crimes, according to the Administration for Community Living.
In an effort to increase awareness of these threats to seniors and to help people identify and prevent cases of elder abuse, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse launched the first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in 2006. In 2011, the United Nations officially designated June 15 for this important public awareness event.
To recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will host a Facebook Live broadcast on Wednesday, June 13, at 7 p.m. ET to discuss the detection and prevention of elder abuse. Jennifer Walker of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at Social Security will discuss how the OIG detects and prevents cases of suspected elder abuse and financial exploitation, and she will explain how people can identify and report suspected elder abuse, as well as how people can protect themselves or seniors they know from mistreatment.
Raising awareness of elder abuse is very important to SSA and the OIG because many of SSA’s customers are seniors, and some of them depend on representative payees to receive and manage their Social Security benefits. The OIG investigates cases of representative payee fraud and misuse, which can deprive older Social Security beneficiaries of the funds and care that are essential to their welfare.
The OIG also tracks and alerts the public about various theft schemes, which often target seniors, aimed at stealing money or personal information from unknowing victims. The OIG maintains a Scam Awareness page on its website to educate the public on how to identify potential schemes and protect themselves from financial exploitation and identity theft. Jennifer Walker of the OIG will discuss all of this and more during the June 13 Facebook Live broadcast.
June is also World Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Throughout the month, government agencies, businesses, and organizations nationally sponsor events to unite communities, seniors, caregivers, governments, and the private sector to understand the importance of recognizing, understanding, and preventing mistreatment and violence against the elderly.
For more information on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, visit the National Center for Elder Abuse website. The Department of Justice also provides a wealth of information and resources online through its Elder Justice Initiative. If you suspect elder abuse, call 911 for an emergency. In a non-emergency situation, use the Eldercare Locator by calling 800-677-1116 to find your local reporting agency.
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Tags: Office of the Inspector General
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Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
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raja
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JS S.
Two groups are fighting our family in Maine; law enforcement bullies in favor of homosexuality (in my opinion as an ex-judge)(ex-Stanford U. student/alumnus); 2nd elderly abuse of both of us in ME and invasion of privacy by LIBERALS pushing a SOCIALIST AGENDA.
We owe money for student loans in IL, as ALSO ILLINOIS OWES OUR FAMILY MONEY ON OUR IL HOME BEING BURNED DOWN IN 2011 and 2 false police reports both in 1993 by crooked IL cops (elderly abuse on our parents as we are part-German). Have had discussions and reports with the FBI, mostly in 2011, and also 3 US Senators for the 2 felony crimes in Chicago (IL A/G, MA A/g, etc [Sec of ED]).
Michael G.
I searched for information: How to order a replacement SS Card. The search returned Elder Abuse.
How do I order a replacement SS Card?
You must have confused me with your thousands of other citizens who have made a similar comment. I don’t recall ever making this comment before.
Ray F.
Hello Michael, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page on “How do I apply for a new or replacement Social Security number card?“, thanks!
Michael G.
I searched for information: How to order a replacement SS Card. The search returned Elder Abuse.
How do I order a replacement SS Card?
You must have confused me with your thousands of other citizens who have made a similar comment. I don’t recall ever making this comment before.
Michael G.
I searched for information: How to order a replacement SS Card. The search returned Elder Abuse.
How do I order a replacement SS Card?
Michael G.
I searched for information: How to order a replacement SS Card. the search returned Eldwer Abuse.
How do I order a replacement SS Card?
Ray F.
Hello Michael, please go to “How do I apply for a new or replacement Social Security number card?” for complete information. Thanks!
Bobby j.
My number is 941-253-9111 born 03/07/1977 I’m 41 yrs old . Living in Bradenton Florida 34120. I just recently applied for S S I benefits and somethings not right. I applied because May 28th 2018 I way hit by a tow truck company while in a pedestrian lane riding a bicycle and in result my femur and hip broken with rod put in leg and hip and have fractures in lower back it happened in gibsonton Florida us highway 41 south and now stay with a friend in Bradenton . My lawyer is Keith Ligori on the personal injury. So might be receiving a large amount settlement with ssi and cyber stalking and cyber bullying seems to follow from saint Petersburg Florida to Clearwater, gibsonton, Ruskin, now Bradenton every phone / number seemed hacked and filled online cyber stalking and bullying and sent it and still never heard back it’s been about 8 to 10 months. So I hope I’m wrong but just in case I’m making it aware I am suppose to receive my first ssi on Aug 1 2018 that’s what was told to me on phone and I have the ssi personal my bank acct and routing and amount in account and I received in the mail the paperwork stating I didn’t have a credit card so I called up and told them I did and regave them the info and that’s when I asked when will I respect to receive and was told in Aug 2018
Bobby j.
Cyber stalking/ cyber bullying is the one that I’m saying seems to follow from city to city. And all the other stuff put together as a result of after the may 28 2018 accident !!!! lawyer/ possible settlement and now ssi disability. Just wanting to make sure I properly word it.
Dr.Saini
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OLATUNJI A.
Incidentally or paradoxically the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15 is the anniversary of my 71st birth day. But unfortunately this month will be 25th month since my retirement benefit has been kept under lock and key by the authority responsible to disperse retirement benefits to retired elders of this nation. The reason for this punitive measure was because I have no bank account. I know many people in this country who get their retirement checks from Currency Exchange locations, and there is no law or rule which prohibit government agencies from sending benefits checks directly to the address where you live. I received the last payment in May 2016. I had begged for mercy without any change of heart from Almighty SSA.
My SSi benefit also suffered the same faith as my retirement benefit.
This, no doubt is a classical form of Elder Abuse. At 70 years of age the officials of Social Security Administration should be a little more humane and considerate to me knowing very well that without the benefits life will be difficult especially in a city like Chicago.
I hope the awareness discussion will open some powerful people ‘ minds to be considerate to elders any where in the world. I am very positive some elders will immensely benefit from the World Awareness talk.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Ray F.
Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. However, we can inform you that a new law went into effect in March 2013.
The Treasury Department requires federal benefit payments to be made electronically. Please continue working with your local office. If you are unable to visit the local office, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!
OLATUNJI A.
I thank you for your response to my revelation above. But I am hesitant to accept the information you stated that The Treasury Department requires federal benefit payments to be made electronically in 2013, because in June 2015 SSA sent a check of $4,159.00 to me in my present address. The payment was delayed for 16 months because of elder abuse due to what has been discussed above. If you are correct what is wrong for SSA to educate the public instead of just keeping silent. SSA’s responsibility to the people of this country is to assist them to be able to live well, not to punish them. When benefits are delayed for over two years, then this certainly an abusive treatment of the elderly.
The responsibility of stopping Elder Abuse should not fall on the affected elders but on all of us, we should jointly protect the vulnerable elders from cruel attitude of some ignorant officials or else the unfortunate elders would just die from crudity of immense proportion.
The purpose of the World Elder Abuse Day is to protect the elders by making certain that Treasury Department or any other agencies of government avoid all instructions that can negatively impart elders, and ensure that they’re informed about all rules that can negatively impact elders, and to ensure that they are properly informed.
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