Overview:
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed annually on June 15 to raise awareness of the rights of older persons and prevent all forms of abuse and neglect. Elder abuse refers to a single or repeated act, or a failure to act, within a relationship of trust that causes harm or distress to an older person. It includes physical, psychological, emotional, financial, sexual abuse, neglect, and violations of dignity.
Objectives:
- Raise awareness of all forms of elder abuse and neglect and promote prevention efforts.
- Emphasize that elder abuse extends beyond physical violence to include emotional, psychological, and financial abuse.
Key Facts:
- About 1 in 6 people aged 60 years and older experience some form of abuse in community settings each year.
- Rates of elder abuse are higher in institutional settings, where 2 in 3 staff members have reported committing a form of abuse in the previous year.
- Elder abuse can result in serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.
- Cases of elder abuse are expected to increase as the global population continues to age.
- The number of people aged 60 years and older is projected to increase from 900 million in 2015 to nearly 2 billion by 2050.
Official Date:
Globally: June 15th, 2026.
Locally: Dhu al-Hijjah 29th, 1447H.