EverCare At Home’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference Succeeds in Supporting Elder Abuse Education Initiatives

Newburgh, N.Y. – (August 5, 2019) – Last month’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference, hosted at Dutchess County Community College, netted $30,000, all of which will benefit elder abuse awareness initiatives in both Orange and Dutchess counties.

The conference, “Giving Elder Abuse Victims A Voice,” was organized by EverCare At Home and the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Planning Committee, in cooperation with the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, Dutchess County Adult Protective Service, and Dutchess County Government. The conference was free and open to the entire Hudson Valley region.

“We were extremely pleased with the generosity of the dozens of sponsors who contributed to the event, and with the over 400 community members who attended,” EverCare CEO and President Sylvia McTigue said. “The purpose of this annual conference is to not only give victims a voice, but also to advance EverCare’s initiative to educate and create awareness of the serious epidemic of elder abuse. We were successful in achieving this goal. We were able to shine a bright spotlight on all of the local community support services that exist, as well as provide education on how to prevent elder abuse.”

Event keynote speaker Art Mason, LMSW, a nationally recognized elder abuse and financial exploitation expert, praised the quality of his fellow speakers, and said the event “has set the standard for future events in New York State and the region.”

“As a professional in the field for over 30 years, I have rarely taken part in such an event as this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference in Poughkeepsie,” said Mason, the director of the Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan. “This year’s WEAAD event was one of the most comprehensive and well-attended events in New York State.”

Proceeds from the annual event will allow EverCare to continue to provide consistent awareness and educational offerings throughout the year. Currently, EverCare At Home is focusing on offering a series of free elder abuse education workshops, driving pledges from healthcare partners, and exploring organizational opportunities for fostering awareness of the prevention of elder abuse as a whole.

For businesses and organizations that are interested in scheduling education sessions or otherwise support and/or participate, please contact elderabuse2020@evercare.org.