In observance of June 15th, the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Nataša Todorović, expert associate of the Red Cross of Serbia, held a lecture at the Public Library in Inđija on Thursday, June 13th.

Key Points of the Lecture:

• Types of Elder Abuse: Participants learned about the various forms of elder abuse.
• Major Risks: The biggest risks associated with elder abuse were presented.
• Reporting Procedures: Procedures for reporting abuse were explained.

A particular emphasis was placed on the issue of "aggressive" vendors who attempt to sell various products to older persons, often leading to financial problems. Older persons are frequently feel ashamed to complain to their children about these situations.

History of Observance

• Global Initiative: The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day has been observed since 2006, initiated by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA).
• Serbia: In Serbia, this date has been observed since 2007, with active participation from the Gerontological Society of Serbia and collaboration between the civil and public sectors.
• UN Recognition: Since 2011, this date has been officially included in the United Nations calendar.

Priorities for the Future

The World Health Organization has included the fight against elder abuse as one of the priorities of the UN Decade of Healthy Aging 2021-2030.