World Elder Abuse Awareness Day​​ 2025

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed each year on June 15. It was launched in 2006 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

Every year, millions of adults over 60 are abused, neglected, or financially exploited worldwide. Many suffer in silence, and some never get the chance to speak up at all.

Elder abuse doesn’t take just one form, and it doesn’t affect just one group. It cuts across every background, income level, and type of care setting, including nursing homes. Too often, no one is held accountable.

WEAAD is a time to confront how older adults are being mistreated, often by the very people and systems meant to protect them.

10 Elder Abuse Facts

1. Roughly 1 in 6 people over age 60 have experienced abuse in a community setting within the past year, according to WHO.
2. Elder abuse happens in every setting, including private homes, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
3. 2 out of 3 staff in institutional settings admitted to committing abuse against older adults in the past year.
4. Abuse is often carried out by someone the older adult knows, including caregivers, family members, and medical providers.
5. Bedsores, bruises, weight loss, and poor hygiene can all be signs of abuse or neglect.
6. Types of cognitive decline and disability, such as dementia, increase the risk of being abused.
7. During the COVID-19 pandemic, elder abuse in community settings rose by as much as 84%.
8. Emotional abuse — such as yelling, threats, and isolation — is the most commonly reported form.
9. Financial exploitation includes stolen benefits, forged checks, scams, and unauthorized changes to wills or accounts.
10. Most abuse is never reported, especially when the victim is afraid, isolated, or dependent on the abuser.

Why World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Matters

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day brings necessary attention to a widespread problem that affects millions of older adults and demands a serious response.

Here’s why recognizing elder abuse matters:

• Accountability: Pressures institutions, caregivers, and decision-makers to take responsibility
• Awareness: Helps the public recognize all forms of abuse, including neglect and exploitation
• Education: Equips families, staff, and professionals with tools to identify and report concerns
• Prevention: Encourages systems and communities to adopt safeguards that reduce the risk of harm
• Recognition: Reinforces that older adults have the same right to safety and dignity as anyone else

WEAAD is an opportunity to draw public attention to this widespread issue and encourages families, professionals, and policymakers to take elder abuse seriously.

Types of Elder Abuse

Older adults can experience multiple forms of abuse. Each type of elder abuse causes harm in different ways.

The different types of elder abuse include:

• Emotional abuse: Verbal attacks, threats, humiliation, or forced isolation
• Financial exploitation: Theft, scams, pressure to change wills, or misuse of funds
• Neglect: Failure to provide basic needs such as food, hygiene, medical care, or safety
• Physical abuse: Hitting, slapping, shoving, improperly restraining, or rough handling
• Sexual assault: Any non-consensual sexual contact or exposure

None of these situations should be minimized, excused, or considered a normal part of the aging process.

Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes

Institutional abuse is a major concern. Nursing home residents are often isolated and fully dependent on staff. However, many facilities are understaffed, poorly monitored, or more focused on profit than care.

Common red flags of elder abuse in nursing homes include:

• Advanced bedsores
• Missed medications
• Unexplained injuries
• Weight loss
• Withdrawn or fearful behavior

The sad reality is that families should never assume nursing homes are safe by default. Oversight and accountability are essential.

If your loved one is being neglected or abused in a nursing home or other long-term care facility, you may be able to take legal action.

Get a free case review right now to find out if you could be eligible.

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How Dementia Increases the Risk of Elder Abuse

Older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia face a higher risk of neglect and abuse, particularly in long-term care settings.

Several factors contribute to this increased vulnerability:

• Cognitive impairment may prevent them from recognizing abuse
• Communication difficulties can make it hard to report what happened
• Dependence on others may lead abusers to assume they won’t be believed

This concern is especially relevant during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, recognized each June.

People living with dementia require consistent oversight and protection from all forms of abuse in nursing homes, where they depend on others for care.

How to Participate in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Everyone has a role to play in preventing elder abuse. Individuals, families, and communities can take meaningful action through simple, concrete steps.

Here are ways to get involved on June 15 and beyond:

• Check in on nursing home residents who may be isolated or overlooked.
• Download and share educational materials from WEAAD organizers.
• Invite a local expert or ombudsman to speak at a school, library, or senior center.
• Offer respite or assistance to a caregiver who may be overwhelmed.
• Post on social media using #WEAAD and #ElderAbusePrevention.
• Report any concerns to a local ombudsman or other authority.
• Wear purple to show your support for WEAAD and ending elder abuse.
• Write about elder abuse in newsletters, bulletins, or community forums.

Each action you take can help raise awareness, support older adults, and push communities toward long-term accountability.

Elder Abuse Demands Year-Round Accountability

Elder abuse isn’t limited to any one setting, population, or one day of recognition. It occurs every day in private homes, long-term care facilities, and other environments around the world.

Awareness days are important, but they aren’t enough. Families need answers, older adults need protection, and the systems that allow abuse to happen need to be held accountable.

At the Nursing Home Abuse Center, we focus on recognizing the signs of elder abuse in nursing homes and helping families take action when something is wrong.

If your loved one has been harmed in a care setting and you’re not sure where to turn, we’re here to help you understand your options and fight back.

Call (855) 264-6310 right now or get a free case review to find out if you may be eligible to take legal action.