Bonnie Cranmer
Contributing writer
In a recent proclamation by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, he stated that Virginia is home to 1.9 million people over 60 and will increase to 2.2 million by 2030. May has been designated Adult Abuse Prevention Month to address the challenges faced by this population. Over 43,000 cases of adult abuse, neglect and exploitation were reported in 2023, an 8% increase from the previous year.
Virginia has an increasing older population, now amounting to one in six Virginians. There are 25 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) which provide services to millions of seniors across the Commonwealth. The Department of Social Services is the local state agency which provides protective services for all Virginians, through Adult Protective Services (APS).
Seniors are especially vulnerable to abuse. Activities such as hitting, slapping, beating, punching, pinching, shaking, burning, kicking, or striking the elderly are forms of physical harm that qualify for criminal proceedings. Adding to physical abuse, seniors are targeted for financial exploitation and fraud. Other forms of abuse include emotional or psychological abuse, neglect and abandonment, and sexual abuse.
Whether seniors choose to live independently, with family or caregivers, or in a senior living environment, abuse is possible and sometimes goes unreported. Seniors are often vulnerable and embarrassed when something happens. Elderly women are more likely than men to suffer some form of abuse, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA).
Those with concerns about a senior friend or family member can reach out directly to Craig County Social Services at 540-864-5117 or call the state Adult Protective Services hotline at 888-832-3858 to report any suspected adult abuse, neglect or exploitation.