Empowering Active Adults: Recognizing Elder Abuse Awareness Day
- Senior Sally
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
At Arella on Jones, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. Although Elder Abuse Awareness Day was observed on June 15, we want to take a moment to share information and resources that can help active adults and their loved ones stay informed about financial exploitation and other forms of elder abuse.
We encourage you to read the information below and explore the helpful resources provided by Charles Schwab. By increasing awareness and understanding of these issues, we can all play a role in supporting active adults and fostering a community built on respect, connection, and independence.
Understanding Elder Abuse
Elder abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse. Unfortunately, scams targeting older adults continue to increase, making awareness and education more important than ever.
By staying informed and maintaining strong connections with loved ones, we can help reduce the risk of fraud and exploitation.
How Loved Ones Can Help
Stay Connected and Informed: Regular conversations can help identify concerns early. Watch for warning signs such as sudden account changes, unusual withdrawals or spending, confusion about recent transactions, or unexpected changes to legal or financial documents.
Encourage Strong Account Practices: Help active adults take advantage of available account tools and resources such as two-step verification, account alerts, mobile notifications, and social media privacy settings.
Speak Up If Something Seems Wrong: If you suspect financial exploitation or abuse, report your concerns to local authorities, Adult Protective Services, financial institutions, or law enforcement.
Tips for Active Adults
Review Financial Accounts Regularly: Monitor bank and investment accounts for unfamiliar activity and ask a trusted loved one or professional for assistance if needed.
Plan Ahead: Keep important financial and legal documents organized and up to date. Consider designating a trusted contact who can help if questions or concerns arise.
Protect Personal Information: Never share account numbers, passwords, verification codes, or other sensitive information in response to unexpected calls, emails, text messages, or pop-up messages.
Be Cautious with Remote Access Requests: Avoid clicking unfamiliar links or allowing someone remote access to your computer or phone unless you initiated the contact and have verified who they are.
Learn More
Charles Schwab has compiled several helpful resources focused on financial awareness and helping individuals recognize and prevent financial exploitation. We encourage residents and their loved ones to review these materials and learn more about common scams, fraud prevention, and financial planning resources.
Together, we can help build a more informed community where active adults can continue to thrive with confidence, independence, and peace of mind.