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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JUNE 14, 2024 | The Indian Eye 26

New Yorkers Rally to Support Older Adult

Community and Help End Elder Abuse at NYC Aging’s

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Event

The WEAAD day of action included a com munity walk and a support and resource fair.

OUR BUREAU our elders at our 3rd Annual Senior
Day in Harlem to celebrate them and
New York, NY
recognize them as the foundation of
ore than 200 people rallied our community.”
in Sunnyside, Queens, on
MSunday to raise awareness “Elder crime can mean many
about elder abuse, support survivors, different things; emotional abuse,
and empower all older adults with neglect, physical abuse, and sexual
critical information and resources to abuse to name a few. But the most
prevent abuse, neglect, and exploita- common crimes perpetrated against
tion. older adults is rampant fraud and fi-
The World Elder Abuse Aware- nancial exploitation. Financial crimes
ness Day (WEAAD) event com- against older adults in the U.S. cost
menced with a community march an astonishing amount. Some reports
down Queens Boulevard, represent- estimate it to be $3.4 billion per year,”
ing a collective effort to draw atten- said Assemblymember Ron Kim,
tion to the many harms of elder abuse Chair of the Assembly Committee on
and stand in solidarity with survivors. Aging. “As the Chair of the Assem-
A resource and supports fair fea- bly Committee on Aging, I’m always
turing insights from community and looking for ways to raise awareness,
government resource organizations, work with law enforcement, and ed-
elected officials, and survivors imme- ucate our communities about how to
diately followed, offering attendees protect their loved ones against the
the opportunity to engage with the many predatory schemes out there.
numerous NYC Aging programs and Today’s World Elder Abuse Aware-
services available to those suffering ness Day is a step in the right direc-
from elder abuse. tion. I want to thank my partners at
The event’s theme, “Building New York City’s Department for the
Strong Supports for Elders,” empha- Aging and look forward to continu-
sized the importance of creating a ing our work on Elder Crime aware-
robust network of support for older ness and prevention.”
adult victims of abuse. In the Unit- “We’re proud to partner with
ed States, an estimated 1 in 10 older NYC Aging in the important work
adults who live at home experienced of supporting those who have expe-
abuse in the past year alone, but only rienced elder abuse. It is crucial for
1 in 24 cases of elder abuse are re- New Yorkers to recognize the signs
ported or receive needed assistance. of elder abuse and to be aware of
“Today’s World Elder Abuse the resources available to help those
Awareness Day event demonstrated affected,” said Judy Zangwill, Execu-
the power of our community to pro- tive Director of Sunnyside Commu-
vide critical support for survivors and nity Services. “Events like the World
raise awareness in order to prevent der abuse, yet only 1 in 24 cases are palled by any form of elder abuse, Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the
further abuse, neglect, and exploita- ever reported,” said Deputy May- and as Chair of the Aging Commit- resource fair held at Sunnyside Com-
tion of older adults,” said Depart- or for Health and Human Services tee, I am committed to protecting munity Services, and our own Elder
ment for the Aging Commissioner Anne Williams-Isom. “Today’s event our seniors,” said NY State Sena- Justice program play an important
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “The underscores our commitment to sup- tor Cordell Cleare. “My bill, Senate role in educating individuals about
coalition of survivors, advocates, porting survivors and preventing fu- 9138, will establish an interagency this issue and providing them with
community leaders, and supporters ture abuse to ensure the safety and elder justice task force consisting of the necessary tools and information
shined a light on elder abuse, offering well-being of the city’s nearly 1.8M representatives from state agencies to combat abuse.”
victims critical resources to rebuild older residents. We will continue to involved in elder justice to create World Elder Abuse Awareness
their lives and declaring in no uncer- uphold the values of dignity and re- greater collaboration and develop Day, observed on June 15, is an in-
tain terms that these heinous crimes spect that they so richly deserve.” overarching strategies, systems, and ternational effort to raise awareness
have no place in New York City.” “During National Elder Abuse programs to protect older adults and promote the dignity and well-be-
“Across the United States, 10% Month, it is essential to emphasize from abuse and mistreatment. Ad- ing of older adults by preventing
of all older adults are victims of el- Elder Abuse Awareness. I am ap- ditionally, my office will be honoring abuse and neglect.

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