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Show the World You Care About Elder Abuse and Neglect
Each year on June 15, people and organizations from around the world combine forces to focus attention on the problem of elder abuse. For the second year, the National Guardianship Association is joining in this one-day campaign among the world leaders who want to bring recognition, and ultimately an end, to elder abuse and neglect.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was founded in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action which recognizes the significance of elder abuse as a largely under-recognized or unspoken problem. Unfortunately, no community or country in the world is immune from this public health and human rights crisis.
Research indicates that public education campaigns like WEAAD are a vital part of the educational process.
Guardians, fiduciaries and conservators are often wrongly portrayed as the perpetrators of elder abuse. By participating in WEAAD, you will help demonstrate that NGA members are on the side of quality service and that through guardianship our most vulnerable citizens find protection from abuse and neglect.
You can become part of this major effort in one very easy way…wear something purple on June 15.
It can be as simple as a purple ribbon or as flashy as a purple hat or tie. Then, when someone asks about the purple, you’ll have a perfect opening to talk about the problem of elder abuse and neglect in your own community and around the world. If you want to go a step further, we will provide a news release that you can personalize and deliver directly to your local media to let them know that you are part of solving this international problem.
You will make an even greater impact by implementing one of the ideas in either the attached “Community Guide Tool Kit” or from this list:
- Blog, Tweet, or use your Facebook & LinkedIn pages to talk about your involvement.
- Put a message or a purple ribbon on your website.
- Write an article for your newsletter or the newsletter of a related organization.
- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
- Encourage your Board of Directors, employees, friends and relatives to wear purple.
- Give a speech anyplace and then publicize it even if your audience is small.
- Set up an interview with a local reporter (We’ve got tips on talking with the media.)
- Notify your local TV station that June 15 is WEAAD. (They probably don’t know.)
- Get your mayor, county officials or other government body to sign a proclamation.
Your best resource for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is www.inpea.net/weaad.html where you will find free logos, posters that you can print, and more details. Even if you just wear a purple ribbon, remember that each effort is an important cog in an international campaign.
While state and community events remain the pillar of WEAAD observances, WEAAD is not a small event. In previous years, the White House Blog recognized WEAAD in its June 15th Seniors and Social Security commentary, national television networks did special reports, the National Center on Elder Abuse placed video announcements in theaters across the country.
We are imagining the impact in communities across the nation if every NGA member takes this one day — June 15 — to share this important story. Can you see yourself in this picture?
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