Saturday, April 21, 2012 4:06 am

One in 20 senior adults will be a victim of elder abuse. One in 23 cases of elder abuse will not be reported due in part to the fact that two-thirds of the perpetrators of elder abuse are the victim's family members. 

These same family members control the victim's money, medicins, exposure to the outside world and all other aspects of their lives.

April is Elder Abuse Awareness Month. If you have an elderly friend, family member, church member, neighbor, etc., make time to check on them. See how they are doing. You maybe their only hope.

Look for signs of malnutrition, unexplained bruising, uncleanliness. Do they act fearful of their caregiver? These are just a few things to look for while visiting.

If you suspect abuse please contact Adult Protection Services at 1-877-277-8366 or if you have questions, please contact the SAVE Office at 615-563-6690. Your call will remain anonymous. Please help our most vulnerable and valuable assets to our community. Remember they got us to were we are today.
 
Cannon County SAVE will be hosting its First Annual Walk against Elder Abuse and Domestic Violence on April 28 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Dillon Park.  Price is $10.00 to walk (price includes a t shirt). 

The walk is not only a fund raiser for SAVE but to bring awareness to Elder Abuse and Domestic Violence in our county. There will be several speakers  at the event to include two survivors of domestic abuse and 1 survivor of elder abuse. 

Also on hand will be Robin Kimbrough from the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and Adult Protection Service Worker Melinda Davis. Please come out and support SAVE and learn how you can help to stop the violence in our community.

For more information about the SAVE Walk, please contact the SAVE office at 616-563-6690 or go by Curves or Legendary Cuts to sign up.