Washington Housing Authority Brings Awareness to Elder Abuse
Washington Housing Authority will mark Elder Abuse Awareness Day with a June 18 info session and neighborhood outreach, offering resources for older and disabled residents.
By Clark Curtis - Washington Daily News
In recognition of Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which was June 15, the Washington Housing Authority will host an information session at its offices located at 809 Pennsylvania Ave. "A lot of our elders and disabled have home healthcare nurses, family members, or friends check on them from time to time," said Kimberly Stanley, coordinator of Resident Opportunity for Self Sufficiency (ROSS), with the Housing Authority. "We want them to be aware of what signs to recognize if there is possible abuse. We will have 12 vendors on site with information tables, such as the Beaufort County Department of Social Services and the United Healthcare Agency, to discuss some of the changes in Medicare and Medicaid benefits."
However, Stanley said that the main objective is to walk the area. "The greatest community that we serve is here near Pennsylvania and Huddnell," said Stanley. "We will be walking through the community and knocking on the doors of those who are unable to join us. In addition to the information we will be giving them to assist them if they have concerns about the way they are being treated, we will also be bringing them snacks like apples, oranges, and peanuts. We want them to be able to put a face with the message and let them know that we are in the area, we care, and are concerned about their well-being."
Stanley added that anyone is welcome to attend the event, regardless of whether they live in Housing Authority units. "We never know who may be having these issues, and they don't want to talk about it," said Stanley. "We hope to get them the information they need that will guide them for their next steps. We welcome anyone who would like to come out and walk the neighborhood with us to do so."
The event runs from 11 am to 1 pm on Thursday, June 18.