Ageism is defined as a tendency to regard older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention. Abuse is treating a person or an animal with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly. At times, ageism and abuse go hand in hand.
Bladen County has reports of elder abuse. Bladen County Health and Human Services along with the Bladen County Commissioners are trying to take a stand against Elder abuse.
Bladen County Board of Commissioners’ Chairman, Charles Ray Peterson Bladen County had 93 reports of senior citizens being abused in 2016. Peterson also said according to Social Services Director, Vicky Smith, there are already 84 cases of elder abuse this year.
At the first Bladen County Board of Commissioners meeting of June 2017 the Commissioners made an Elder Abuse Awareness Proclamation and presented it to the Bladen County Social Services Department.
“This issue is alarming to me,” Peterson said.
The Commissioners, County Manager, and the Department of Social Services will be working on other ideas to help prevent elder abuse in Bladen County according to Peterson.
ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS PROCLAMATION
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