June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month. There is so much to say about the neglect, abuse, and exploitation of older adults in Georgia. Let’s start with the fact that 1 in 9 adults over the age of 60 are abused. According to the GBI, there were 2,082 criminal charges brought against elder abuse perpetrators in 2016. This was an increase from 366 in 2010.
As the number of older adults grows in our state, we have an increasing number of potentially vulnerable adults. Recent stats show that one in five Georgians are elderly or disabled. In addition to the growing number of potential victims, Georgia has been working hard to educate law enforcement, district attorneys, mandated reporters, and the community about this growing epidemic.
Despite the increase in elder abuse cases, it is still one of the most unreported and undetected crimes in the United States.
Continue reading “Elder Abuse: Protecting Georgia’s Vulnerable Adults”