June 15th is Elder Abuse Awareness Day

    PHOENIX, AZ, June 10, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- June 15th is the 5th annual Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Organizations and communities across the world will be engaging in activities which will raise awareness of this serious problem affecting elderly citizens worldwide. The law firm of Cullan & Cullan, M.D., J.D. encourages you to participate in local events to help promote elder abuse awareness in the Phoenix community.

Elder Abuse Awareness Day was started in 2006. In its initial year, several hundred organizations and government entities participated in activities intended to help promote a better understanding of the issues surrounding elderly abuse in nursing homes around the world. Participation in the event has grown considerably each year.

Nursing home abuse and neglect impacts a significant number of elderly people across the world. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of elderly adults are victims of abuse or neglect. Unfortunately, many of these incidents go unreported for a variety of reasons.

"Elder abuse is a serious issue that does not receive the attention it deserves," says Gene Cullan, a Phoenix nursing home abuse attorney at the law firm of Cullan & Cullan, M.D., J.D. "Our law firm has witnessed the tragic consequences of nursing home abuse, and we are committed to protecting the rights of victims across Arizona. We are proud to participate in local Elder Abuse Awareness Day events on June 15, and we urge others in the area to join us."

There are a variety of ways that individuals and organizations can get involved in raising awareness for elder abuse, including:

- Developing an educational program
- Wearing purple, the official color of elder abuse awareness, on June 15th
- Volunteering at a local nursing home on a regular basis, particularly with individuals who do not receive regular visits from family and friends
- Participating in activities which raise awareness of the issue in the local community
- Reaching out to an elderly friend, family member, or neighbor living alone on a regular basis
- Volunteering at a local chapter of Meals on Wheels to bring meals to the homes of seniors who may need assistance
- Becoming involved with the local elder abuse prevention coalition - you can find additional information at www.ncea.aoa.gov/ncearoot/main site/pdf/EffectiveLocalElderAbusePreventionNetworks.pdf
- Create an elder abuse awareness group on a social networking site such as Facebook, providing links to information and advocacy resources - start a campaign to get "x" number of friends to join the group by Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15th)

Participation in Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an important step to improving the living conditions for many elderly citizens across the world. While raising awareness for this cause should not be limited to one day, it is an important tool for the protection of elderly rights.

About Cullan & Cullan, M.D., J.D.

Cullan & Cullan, M.D., J.D. is a family-run law firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are dedicated to fighting for the rights of elderly citizens in the Arizona area who have been victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. The lawyers of Cullan & Cullan, M.D., J.D. are also doctors, giving them a unique understanding of the medical and legal issues involved in these complex cases. For more information, please visit their website at www.stopnursinghomeabuse.org.

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