Murphy – Konehete Veterans Park was a buzz of activity on June 17, when vendors, walkers and supporters came out for the 12th annual Elder Abuse Awareness Walk hosted by Reach of Cherokee & Graham Counties.
Neighboring counties also participated in elder abuse walks – including Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain – as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
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The Cherokee County event began in the early afternoon. Vendors offered information packets and support, as well as supplies and gift bags geared toward providing the elderly with comfort items before moving on to the walk from 6-7 p.m.
About 50 folks came out to support the effort, including Mayor Tim Radford. Snacks and beverages were provided.
Reach encourages young people to participate in the walks, like 13-year-old Landon Godfrey. “A lot of people abuse other people,” he said, “so it doesn’t surprise me that they would do it to elderly people.”
The annual nationwide walk is a reminder that elder abuse exists. There are ways to recognize it – as well as to help prevent it.
Elder abuse is any act that causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust, such as a family member or friend. The abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual, and can include mistreatment and neglect.
One in 10 adults 60 years of age and older are victims of some form of maltreatment. Annually, that’s about 5 million seniors. For every known case, 24 are never reported.
In 2022 in North Carolina, there were more than 34,000 Adult Protective Service Reports taken, with 197 of them in Cherokee County.
Scammers prey on the elderly as well. According to the AARP, seniors across the country have lost $43 billion to scams.
Some advice given to seniors to help thwart scams are to allow unknown callers to go into voicemail, as opposed to picking up the phone, as well as just hanging up if you are on the phone and don’t understand what’s being said.
Beverly White works with the N.C. Senior Tar Heel Legislature and understands the need to help keep older citizens safe.
“We advocate for senior citizens for the General Assembly,” she said. “We try to get legislation passed to benefit seniors.”
Linda May of Bellview has been participating in the walk for about 10 years. Standing in her walking shoes, she said, “This is one way that I can show my support for elder abuse awareness, and there is a critical need for awareness.”
The Cherokee County Department of Social Services and Reach partner closely together to offer seniors numerous resources, services, products and safe places to go if they need to flee.
Amanda Hamby, the women’s resource coordinator and court advocate with Reach, wants elder folks to know that “we are here, and if there’s anything we can ever do to help in any way, they can call us or come to the office.”
Vendors at the event included DSS’ Adult Protective Service and Medicaid Food Nutrition programs, Anne Rose Insurance Agency, Appalachian Community Health Center, Four Seasons, Four Square Community Action, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Nantahala Bank & Trust, N.C. Medicaid Enrollment Broker and Reach of Cherokee & Graham Counties.
Crisis line: Call 828-837-8064.
Details: Call 828-837-2097.