By Payton Tholstrup

To raise awareness of elder abuse, The Cloud County Commission has proclaimed June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month once again in Cloud County. The commission is encouraging the community to work together to help protect elderly adults.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reported that one in ten seniors in the U.S. experience mistreatment or abuse. This includes domestic and sexual violence, financial exploitation, and neglect. One study estimated that only one in 24 cases of abuse are reported to authorities and that an estimated five million elders are abused each year.

Elders are also likely to fall victim to scams targeting older adults. These scams range from imposter scams to health insurance scams. According to NCOA, elder financial abuse and fraud costs to older Americans range anywhere from $2.6 billion to $26.5 billion each year, a number they said is likely under-reported.

The Cloud County Commission stated that everyone needs to be aware of elder abuse. Each of us can help support the safety and welfare of older adults. One way to do this is by having discussions with family members to promote awareness of elder abuse.