Sedalia Senior Center Program to Focus on Elder Abuse Awareness

Care Connection for Aging Service is participating in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15.

“Elder abuse is never OK,” said Kathy Ray-Smith, Care Connection’s Regional Ombudsman Director. “And, while most people think of abuse occurring at the hands of strangers, it’s often the case that the perpetrator is a close family friend or relative. In addition, abuse can involve bullying, financial exploitation, and emotional abuse.”

That’s the message Ray-Smith wants to send to elders across Care Connection’s 13 West Central Missouri counties. According to a press release from Care Connection, one in 10 seniors are victims of some form of elder abuse, nationally.

People who think they may be the victim of abuse – or know a victim – can make a report to the Missouri Elder Abuse and Neglect hotline at 1-800-392-0210. The hotline is operated by the state Department of Health and Senior Services.

To call attention to the elder abuse problem, Care Connection volunteers and staff are delivering purple refrigerator magnets and educational brochures to about 1,400 recipients of home-delivered meals, and those attending the senior centers.

The distribution of the magnets was made possible by a Thrivent Action Team grant from Rebecca Holland and Jeremy VanWey, of Warrensburg.

A presentation from Kathy Ray-Smith is scheduled for June 8, at the Sedalia Senior Center, located at 312 South Massachusetts Avenue. The presentation will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Ray-Smith will make another presentation at the Cole Camp Senior Center on June 21, beginning at 11:00 a.m.