(Elder Abuse Awareness)....Last week the County Board Of Supervisors, Department of Social Services, District Attorney's Office and Public Administrator/Area Agency on Aging got together.

They declared June as Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month. It is estimated that every year, 1 in 10 older Ameriucans are victims of elder abuse and exploitation. Elder and Dependent adult abuse is a national problem and will only become more prevalent as the population of older adults continues to grow.. The National Center on Elder Abuse, for every incident of abuse reported to authorities, nearly 24 other cases remain undetected. It is estimated that by the year 2040 the number of elder abuse cases is expected to reach over 80 million. We can build social support for older and dependent adults to mitigate the risk being abused only if we work together.