A clutch of Orange County officials expressed their determination to protect the elder members of the community at an event at the county offices in Goshen, N.Y. on June 15.
Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus joined District Attorney David Hoovler, Office for the Aging Director AnnMarie Maglione, and Commissioner of Social Services and Acting Commissioner of Mental Health Darcie Miller to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), which aims to raise understanding about elder abuse and neglect in the community.
“The elder members of our community are some of the most trusting, honest people and they expect the people coming to the door are the same, and that’s not always the truth,” said Neuhaus.
Every year, an estimated five million older Americans are victims of some type of elder abuse. It is estimated that only about one in five of those crimes are ever discovered. According to The National Clearing House on Abuse Later in Life, each year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, and other forms of abuse.
