Rev. Tom Burgess of Jamesville, pastor of Hope Christian Fellowship in Canastota, presented recently on the topic of elder abuse. Burgess is a supervisor with the Onondaga County Department of Social Services Adult Protective Division.

Canastota, Jamesville, NY – June 2011

On June 15, people around the world observed the sixth annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to increase community awareness of elder abuse, which is one of our society’s worst secrets, despite devastating and sometimes life-threatening consequences.

Among local participants in the Onondaga County event held at the Jewish Community Center in DeWitt was Rev. Tom Burgess of Jamesville, pastor of Hope Christian Fellowship in Canastota and a supervisor with the Adult Protective Division of the Onondaga County Department of Social Services, who is passionate about protecting all of the most vulnerable members of our society because abuse hurts at any age.

Burgess provided an overview of elder abuse, which refers to intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or another trusted individual that lead to or may lead to harm of a vulnerable elderly person age 60 or older.

Forms of abuse include neglect by others; physical, emotional or psychological abuse; verbal abuse and threats; financial abuse and exploitation; sexual abuse or abandonment.

Elder abuse can happen to any older individual, it can occur anywhere, and it can affect senior citizens across all cultures, races and socio-economic groups. Last year in Onondaga County, 396 adult protective referrals were assigned, including 139 alleging adult abuse, of which 112 were for investigation of suspected elder abuse.

That number represents 28 percent of all Adult Protective referrals and 81 percent of all adult abuse referrals received and assigned locally.

Other speakers included Alan Lawitz, the director of the Bureau of Adult Services in the state Office of Children and Family Services, who estimated that fewer than one in five adult abuse cases and only one in 14 abusive incidents involving those age 60 and older is actually reported, which means that very few seniors who are abused may get the help they need.

Mary Ann Corasaniti of the Syracuse Area Domestic and Sexual Violence Coalition shared information about the recent state Prevalence Study that found elder abuse is “under the radar” throughout our state in general and in the Central New York and Southern Tier region in particular, with only one of approximately 35 incidents of elder abuse being brought to the attention of local authorities.

Yvonne Asomoah, MSW, spoke on behalf of her late mother Peggy Woods, a prominent local person who was financially exploited in her later years.

More than a dozen local agencies had displays of interest to the nearly 100 people in attendance. The Jewish Community Center hosted the event and treated guests to kosher refreshments; students from the Hebrew Day School presented attendees with purple ribbons, representing the international effort to increase awareness of elder abuse in order to eradicate it.

This was the third annual local observance; prior years’ events were hosted by the Salvation Army Adult Day Center and the Catholic Charities Elderly Support Services.