By RICH GREEN
Moapa Valley Progress
In recognition of Elder Abuse as a growing issue, Mayor Al Litman and the Mesquite City Council proclaimed June 15 as the 14th annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at their meeting on June 11.
This proclamation was in support of the National Center on Elder Abuse to recognize the significance of taking action to raise awareness, prevent and address elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue and that ageism and social isolation are major causes of elder abuse in the USA.
The proclamation also recognized that the City of Mesquite Senior Center provides substantive resources to assist in these problems. These resources are meant to ensure that proper social structures exist so that people can retain community connections and reduce the likelihood of abuse. These structures also can support seniors in living as independently as possible, while contributing to the life and vibrancy of their community.
The proclamation was enthusiastically accepted by Griseyda Belacazar of the Mesquite Senior Center. Belacazar emphasized the importance of elder abuse awareness and commented on the many services available to community seniors. She also shared several positive experiences of her own, and those of her associates, in delivering such services to local seniors.
