Prevent Elder Abuse - Essay Example

Project P.E.A. - Prevent Elder Abuse Introduction Commonly, we utter and hear the word "child abuse" but do you know that there is also "elder abuse" This term is not strange to people in the United States where a large population of elders are abused. As defined, elder abuse is a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person (Wikipedia, 2006). The Project P.E.A. - Prevent Elder Abuse is created to assist seniors and dependent adults with crime prevention, crime responsiveness, classifying types of crimes commonly related with seniors and dependent adults, and crime reporting resources.

Elder Abuse can be of the following type: Physical, Psychological, Financial, Sexual and Neglect. Victims normally experience more than one type of abuse.The Project P.E.A. - Prevent Elder Abuse Aiming to address the increasing number of reported elder abuse cases, The Project P.E.A will help alleviate and assist victims in any effective approach. The promoter of this program will aid elder abuse victims with crime prevention, crime awareness, and crime reporting resources though proper education, advocacy, and training of seniors, volunteers and service providers.

Looking forward to find resolution to this kind of violation, The Project P.E.A. will work together with authorities to help support victims. Educating community by orienting to the criminal justice system related to this type of offense, court support, case status and the proper approach on how to handle such cases. This can be done by conducting seminars, community presentation, and training among volunteers and the community to avoid similar cases in the future. The serious problem of elder abuse is growing and considering of advocating its proper resolution by this educational campaign.

A five-year media campaign is planned which includes paid advertising, public relations, community forums, and similar outreach programs designed to cater both victims and probable suspects to this crime. This will help the community increase their awareness of the problem of elder abuse in their neighborhood. The goal of this program is to identify and report cases of this abuse of any type to the proper authorities. Professional training among volunteers will be conducted on how to handle cases.

In addition, Project P.E.A. will have a center established in communities to do regular counseling, emergency assistance, restitution services and other required services extended to victims. Hotlines will also be in service to respond immediate needs in case of emergency. A regular newsletter will also be available circulating in the community. A resource information and assistance website will put up to provide alternative medium in educating and providing immediate service needs guidance online.

Electronic version of the newsletter will also be available among subscribers to update recent cases and developments in relation to Project P.E.A. Victims, which need rehabilitation for proper care, and coping up with the trauma brought by this abuse are provided in cooperation with elder abuse care facilities from government and non-government institutions. All volunteers to this project are given allowances based on their assign community. This project will be a long-term objective in fighting this serious and growing elder abuse.

ReferencesWikipedia (2006). Elder Abuse. Retrieved August 03, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elder_abuse.