TRENTON – To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (“OIFP”) will host a statewide symposium of government and private organizations dedicated to protecting seniors from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The “Lifting Up Voices 2019” event—which will be held tomorrow, Friday, June 14th from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The College of New Jersey—will provide the public with resources and information on how to identify, prevent, and report crimes against the elderly.
“Elder abuse is a crime whose victims often suffer in silence because they don’t know who to turn to for help,” Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. “As World Elder Abuse Awareness Day approaches, we want to make it clear to New Jersey’s elderly residents that help is available and we are here to protect them. Friday’s event is a chance for seniors to learn about the resources available to them and meet with people dedicated to keeping them safe from harm.”
“To better protect New Jersey’s senior residents, our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit established a state-wide multi-agency Elder Protection Task Force last year that meets regularly to share information and coordinate investigations and responses to reports of elder abuse,” said Tracy M. Thompson, Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor. “Tomorrow we invite the public, especially seniors and those who care for them, to join us as elder protection groups and agencies from around the state gather to raise awareness of elder abuse and promote New Jersey’s vast resources to combat it.”
The “Lifting up Voices 2019” event will include real life stories of elder abuse told by individuals who experienced it themselves, as well as advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of abuse. The afternoon will include a raffle, bingo, and a boxed lunch for seniors.
The event will be held in the Brower Student Center at The College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ 08628. Registration is required. To register go to https://form.jotform.com/81286419593972.