According to estimations provided by the New York State Office of the Aging, my three county district is home to more than 40,000 individuals age 65 years or older. Given the fact this is Older Americans Month, I thought I would concentrate on a couple of senior related issues. As each of us grow older, we face new challenges in life. This is especially true of senior citizens. One of the fast growing problems is that of elder abuse.
Elder abuse exists in every community, small and large.
It is a sad fact that as people live longer, unscrupulous individuals will take advantage of seniors' frailty and vulnerability. A recent study by the National Center on Elder Abuse has found that abuse, mistreatment, criminal activity and neglect is a regrettably growing industry. As a result, in the ten years between 1986 and 1996, the number of reported abuses to the PSA increased 128 percent. It is believed by the PSA that because of the shame many people feel in regard to being a victim of abuse, they do not report it to the authorities. The unfortunate part of these unreported cases is that help cannot be given if the abuse is not reported.