Minnesota Elder Justice Center Commemorates World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Elder abuse affects 1 in 10 adults over the age of 60, but a large majority of those incidents are never reported. For every reported incident of elder abuse, another 23 never come to light. Talking about it can be difficult, but the discussion is necessary for safety and prevention.

June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), which is recognized globally as well as here in Minnesota. WEAAD presents the opportunity to have in-depth discussions. The Minnesota Elder Justice Center will be hosting the 2021 Minnesota World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference on June 14-16th. The conference will be held virtually from 9am-noon each day. The conference is geared towards professionals but is open to all.

The WEAAD conference elevates issues of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and provides education on best practices for prevention and response. We are thrilled to announce Ai-jen Poo, best-selling author and an award-winning organizer, as this year’s keynote speaker. Ai-jen Poo will share her expertise on fairness and dignity for care workers.

The conference registration cost is $65 and provides access to all three days. CEU, CLE, POST credits and a general certificate of attendance are included. ASL interpreters will be provided during the conference.

“We must come together as a state to ensure the safety of elders through more understanding and advanced elder abuse prevention strategies,” said Amanda Vickstrom, Executive Director of the Minnesota Elder Justice Center. “The intent of our conference is to nurture and enhance a system of support to reduce elder abuse in Minnesota.”