Today’s Elder Abuse Awareness Day seeks to end maltreatment of aging population

Today (June 15) Elder Abuse Awareness Day in South Dakota, which coincides with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

EAAD provides an opportunity for communities to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of the older population throughout the state.

According to the Administration for Community Living, each year in the United States, an estimated 5 million older persons are abused, neglected and exploited.

Elders lose an estimated $2.6 billion or more annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation, funds that could have been used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care.

South Dakota Department of Human Services Secretary Shawnie Rechtenbaugh said, “Pay attention to your elderly friends, loved ones, and neighbors. Reach out if you observe signs of neglect or caregiver burn-out, weight change, lack of interest in activities or people, and untidy appearance, to name a few. Concerns can be reported confidentially to Dakota at Home at 1-833-663-9673.”

The South Dakota Office of the Attorney General maintains three units that work to prevent elder abuse.

1. The Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit which coordinates with local law enforcement and prosecutors to investigate and prosecute physical abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and financial exploitation. All victims must be over the age of 65. The Elder Abuse Unit received 583 referrals in 2020 alone.
2. The Consumer Protection Division which addresses consumer issues ranging from a wide variety of categories including, but not limited to, sweepstakes scams, credit card issues, door-to-door sales, identity theft issues, and more. If you suspect a scam or fraud, contact Consumer Protection by email at consumerhelp@state.sd.us or phone at 1-800-300-1986. You can also find an extensive array of information on our website at www.consumer.sd.gov.
3. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit which handles investigations involving Medicaid and allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving healthcare providers. If you suspect an issue with a healthcare provider or Medicaid, contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit by email at ATGMedicaidFraudHelp@state.sd.us or by calling 1-888-497-3100. You can also find more resources on their webpage at www.atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Departments/MFCU.

If you suspect elder abuse, contact your local law enforcement; the Department of Human Services at www.dakotaathome.org or you can call the Attorney General’s office at 605-773-3215.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations.