By Bellevue Network on Aging

In June the Bellevue City Council will join groups around the world in recognizing June 15 as the seventh annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

“Elder abuse” describes a range of behavior including physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and self neglect.

Elder abuse is often perpetrated by a known, trusted person, for instance an adult child, spouse or grandchild. Some recently publicized examples of abuse include the 2009 death in Black Diamond of an 88-year-old woman, whose son, her caretaker, was convicted of manslaughter following her death and the recent defrauding of an Eastside man of more than $84,000, by a con artist convincing the victim that his grandson was in trouble.

Unfortunately, most cases of elder abuse are undetected or unreported. To identify mistreatment, experts recommend looking for clues like unexplained physical injuries or repeated accidents. New financial troubles, deterioration of home condition, untreated medical conditions, and/or changes in behavior such as crying, isolation, or worsening hygiene, can also be red flags.

Resources exist within our community to help deal with elder abuse and the challenges of aging. In King County the Senior Information and Assistance program both provides information about services and resources available to seniors and desires that you contact them in regards to older persons about whom you are concerned – (206)-448-3110; info@seniorservices.org

The DSHS toll free Hotline, handles reports of abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults – 1-866- 363-4276 (1-866- ENDHARM)

The King County Prosecutor’s Office has an Elder Abuse Team focusing upon crimes against vulnerable adults, while the Washington State Attorney General vulnerable adult abuse website includes a description of the common types of fraud targeting seniors.