interfaith partnership against
domestic violence and elder abuse
National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-7233 (SAFE)
National Sexual Assault Hotline
800-656-4673 (HOPE)
Looking for a way to get your faith community involved in raising awareness for WEAAD? A great opportunity is the National Weekend of Prayer and Action for Elder Justice! Click on the image above to learn more!
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD)
Every year, approximately 5 million, or 1 in 10, older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Additionally, experts believe that for every reported case of elder abuse or neglect, as many as 23 cases go unreported. Elder abuse is a huge national problem and will only become more prevalent as the population of older adults continues to grow--unless we do something to stop it!
June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). The Administration on Aging proclaims, “The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. In addition, WEAAD is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.”
Want to stay up-to-date on all things WEAAD? Check out the WEAAD Microsite created by NCEA and ACL for a countdown, outreach guide, and additional resources that Safe Havens collaborated on! Our most recent collaboration was recording with NCEA for their Faith Communities Podcast. Our Co-Directors spoke on the topic of "The Critical Role of Faith Communities in Working for Elder Justice." Learn more and listen here.
Engaging Faith Communities
on World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day
Everyone deserves to be safe, but how do we provide the resources, training, and information necessary to make each and every faith community across the U.S., the Tribal Nations, and the U.S. Territories a
haven of safety for older adults? Safe Havens collaborated with NCEA to begin to answer this question.
How will your faith community respond to this call-to-action on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day?
Interfaith Voices Against Elder Abuse
Take Action in June!
Throughout the month, use the hashtags #WEAADandFaith and #WEAAD to Tweet @SafeHavens1 and show that faith communities stand up against elder abuse.
Encourage your congregation to participate in the National Weekend of Prayer and Action for Elder Justice the weekend before WEAAD.
Social isolation is one of the key elements of elder abuse. Visit an older adult in your life and see how they’re doing!
Read about faith and elder abuse: “Answering the Call, Faith Leaders Respond to Elder Abuse”
Send a letter to your local paper, radio or TV station suggesting that they cover World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15.