ADDRESSING ELDER ABUSE
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SHARON POWELL mayoral proclamation EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – During a City Council meeting, Mayor Sharon Powell issued a proclamation recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. In making the proclamation, Powers encouraged everyone to “recognize and celebrate older adults and their ongoing contributions to the success and vitality of our country.” The proclamation recognizes: • Older adults deserve to be treated with respect and dignity to enable them to serve as leaders, mentors, volunteers and vital Excelsior Springs community participants; • 2021 marks the 16th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is designed to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older adults; • The National Center on Elder Abuse and Excelsior Springs recognize the importance of taking action to raise awareness, prevent and address elder abuse; • As people live longer, there is an opportunity to think about collective needs going forward; • Ageism and social isolation are major causes of elder abuse in the United States; • Proper social structures are needed so people can retain community and societal connections, reducing the likelihood of abuse; • Preventing abuse of older adults through maintaining and improving social supports – like senior centers, human services and transportation – is expected to allow everyone to continue to live as independently as possible; and • Where there is justice there can be no abuse, so the National Center on Elder Abuse urges all people to restore justice by honoring older adults..
