County Commissioners recognize June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
From left, Victor Isler, Rick Hall, Hank Kennedy, Commissioner Don Martin, Daymond Davenport, Sam Matthews, Theresa Hoffman-Makar, and Sobeida Adolphus at a recent commissioners’ meeting to promote World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
An advocacy effort led by the Forsyth County Department of Social Services and supported by Age-Friendly Forsyth has resulted in Forsyth County Commissioners formally recognizing June 15th as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Forsyth County. June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month and wearing a purple ribbon or purple clothing throughout the month of June is one way to bring awareness of this serious issue. Last year saw an increase in reported cases of elder abuse that may be related to pandemic issues and social isolation of older adults.
A virtual Elder Abuse Awareness event hosted by the N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services was held on Tuesday, June 15, at 10 a.m.,in lieu of the annual Elder Abuse Awareness Walk, which has been held for the last ten years.
A virtual Elder Abuse Awareness event hosted by the Piedmont Triad Regional Council Area Agency on Aging will take place on Thursday, June 25, and will feature Paul Greenwood as a guest speaker. Greenwood, a former district attorney in San Diego, Calif., is renowned in the field of elder abuse. To register for the virtual event, go to www.aarp.event.com/Stop-abuse.
Forsyth County has a very collaborative network of organizations and community members that prioritize aging and age-friendly efforts. In May 2018 Forsyth County became the seventh North Carolina community to join the AARP/WHO Network, obtaining county commissioner commitment to age-friendly processes that will make Forsyth County a place where people can live their best lives.
Recently, Forsyth County was recertified through February 2024 as a member community within the national AARP/WHO Network of Age-Friendly Communities. Recertification was made possible through the efforts led by the collaborative initiative, Age-Friendly Forsyth. Age-Friendly Forsyth Director Theresa Hoffman-Makar stated, “This recertification is very important and allows for Forsyth County to continue its commitment to making aging a priority in our community. It strengthens our partnership with AARP and allows for us to continue to learn more from other communities nationwide that have successfully developed age-friendly processes and common goals.” Through another collaborative effort and partnership, Winston-Salem was selected by AARP to serve as a location for a state-of-the-art FitLot at Miller Park. AARP is installing 53 parks across the country and Winston-Salem was selected as the 17th location and only N.C. site to receive a grant valued at over $70,000. The FitLot includes exercise equipment, along with free instructional classes from Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks. To sign up for classes or to learn more about the FitLot, please visit https://fitlot.org/parks/winston-salem/.
Over the past year, Age-Friendly Forsyth has been working with a wide variety of organizations within the county, alongside community residents, to develop community goals and objectives that will address aging-related challenges. Progress thus far has been captured in the initiative’s recent Forsyth County Action Plan for Aging Adults. Looking ahead, Age-Friendly Forsyth intends to build upon planning processes and develop a more comprehensive community aging plan.
For more information about Age-Friendly Forsyth, go to www.agefriendlyforsyth.org, and like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/agefriendlyforsyth/.
