Joe Preston, MP -- Elgin - Middlesex - London - Tree Planting at Elgin Manor in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15th

June 15, 2012

Elgin County, ON - World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is held annually on June 15th. WEAAD involves activities to bring greater recognition of mistreatment of older adults wherever they live throughout the world, and to highlight the need for appropriate action. It is intended to give abuse and neglect of older adults a global relevance that will sustain and move prevention efforts forward throughout the whole year and years to come.

Throughout the world, abuse and neglect of older adults largely remains under-recognized, or treated as an unspoken problem. No community or country in the world is immune from this social problem.
In support of WEAAD, and the need to raise awareness of the elder abuse occurring in Elgin County, the Elgin Elder Abuse Resource Committee (EEARC) will hold a recognition event at Elgin Manor Home for the Aged, 39262 Fingal Line, St. Thomas on June 15th at 1PM. Joining them will be MP Joe Preston, MPP Jeff Yurek, and other local dignitaries who will participate in the planting of a red maple tree, which has been generously donated by Canadale Nurseries.

In addition, during WEAAD week, EEARC is partnering with many pharmacies across Elgin County, to deliver elder abuse awareness materials to every household receiving a prescription that week.
EEARC is a non-profit group committed to addressing the issues of Elder Abuse in Elgin County through education, advocacy and liaison with community resources.
For more information see contact details above.

Purple was the colour to wear June 15th, to show support for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). MPP Jeff Yurek, Elgin County Warden Bill Walters, and Karen Vecchio, on behalf of MP Joe Preston, were among the local dignitaries at Elgin Manor Long Term Care Facility, where residents, staff & community members recognized the world-wide event. Also present for the dedication were Elgin Elder Abuse Resource Committee (EEARC) members: Chair Shirley Biro; senior volunteer Jean Leach; and Director of Elgin County Homes, Rhonda Duffy.

A red maple tree, donated by Canadale Nurseries was planted as a way to bring greater recognition of the incidence of elder abuse in Elgin County, across Canada and throughout the world.
This is the fourth year that the EEARC has sponsored such an event. Made up of over 20 organizations who work with seniors as well as senior volunteers, EEARC has been working for the past 20 years to address the issues of elder abuse, through education, advocacy and liaison with community resources.