Senior Citizens Day at AC Fair is July 9

By Teresa Carr

Adams County Senior Council

Administrative Assistant

The Adams County Senior Citizens Council, Inc. office will be closed on July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

The 133rd Annual Adams County Fair begins on Saturday, July 6. Senior Citizens Day will be on Tuesday, July 9, beginning at 9 a.m. inside the Administration building. Our office will be closed but our services will be operational. We hope to see you at the fair!

On Wednesday, July 31 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. here at the Senior Citizens office, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) is sponsoring a Rural Will Clinic. They will be offering simple wills, powers of attorney, living wills and transfer on death affidavits. Legal Aid staff will be onsite to conduct intake, client questionnaires for drop-in clients, proofread forms and answer questions.

Do you need one-on-one Tech Help for your phone or tablet? The Adams County Public Library has someone who can help you, Jacob Fletcher, Digital Literacy Specialist. Please call (937) 587-2085 and set up an appointment at the library closest to you for Jacob’s assistance. A very nice service offered by the Adams County Public Library

June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) are encouraging Ohioans to help their older family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues by learning the signs of elder abuse and how to report it.

The U.S. Administration for Community Living defines elder abuse as “any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.” This can include physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, as well as self-neglect, neglect by others, abandonment, or financial exploitation.

National studies show as many as 1 in 10 seniors is a victim of elder abuse. In Ohio, nearly 3 million adults are age 60 or above. By 2030, older Ohioans will make up more than a quarter of the state’s population.

“Elder abuse, unfortunately, is a more common reality than most of us think,” said ODA Director Ursel J. McElroy. “During World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, we hope to empower older adults to speak up and advocate for themselves but also to remind all Ohioans to learn the signs of elder abuse. Together, we can foster a society that protects older adults and saves lives.”

Signs of elder abuse can include a worsening living environment, unexplained injuries, unusual behavior changes, unpaid bills, new credit cards, and increased cash withdrawals.

ODJFS recently updated its Age Safely, Ohio campaign. Additionally, ODA’s website features several pages on elder abuse – aging.ohio.gov/elderabuse – including detailed elder abuse warning signs and insights on how Ohioans can avoid scams.

Gov. Mike DeWine recognized the importance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 with this resolution.

Anyone can report elder abuse by calling 1-855-OHIO-APS (1-855-644-6277) or visiting https://aps.jfs.ohio.gov. Callers can review a checklist to provide appropriate information. Callers can also choose to remain anonymous.

Just A Thought: “I got myself a senior’s GPS, not only does it tell me how to get to my destination, it tells me why I wanted to go there.” ~Anonymous