World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 15, 2020
Join us on June 15, 2020, in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day! The focus is Lifting Up Voices to help older adults feel heard! We can help by sharing stories on social media, connecting with our neighbors, and having conversations to help empower older adults. Here are some talking points to help have productive conversations:
- Instead of appealing to sympathy, try appealing to justice. This is about treating older adults fairly.
- Instead of talking about vulnerability, try talking about the importance of social connections to empower older adults.
- Instead of using data and expert jargon, try using the social structure metaphor that society is like a building. Let’s improve it with support beams that can keep everyone safe.
- Instead of using terms “perpetrators” and “victims,” try using clearer terms like “people who commit elder abuse” and “survivors.”
- Instead of giving descriptions of the problem, try telling a complete story. Say why it matters, how it works, and what can be done to address the problem.
Together, we can be part of Lifting Up Voices and help empower older adults. More talking points are available in this Quick Start Guide to Talking Elder Abuse.
Use #WEAAD on social media!
