We are pleased to inform you all that we at ''Silver Innings Foundation'' had successfully completed World Elder Abuse Awareness day Programme in June 2008.Pls note the Elder Abuse awareness programme has still not ended it will be ongoing one as lot many people to reach out. Pls click link below for short Video clip of Dharavi Programme (it is in local Marathi Language) in association with The Family Welfare Agency - Dharavi Center.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVmiN1zB-2w

Also see some interesting Pictures of Month long programme
(for this you might need gmail /orkut account):
http://www.orkut.co.in/
Album.aspx?uid=14021897070185211660&aid=1214976968
and
http://www.orkut.co.in/
Album.aspx?uid=14021897070185211660&aid=1213648057

This Programme was promoted by INPEA (International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse), Indian Chapter through Development, Welfare and Research Foundation (DWARF) and 'Little Things Matter Initiatives' (LTMI) ,The Family Welfare Agency, Mumbai, ARDSI (Alzheimer’s Related Disorder Society of India), Mumbai Chapter, Society for Serving Seniors, Hyderabad, Shree Manav Seva Sangh, Mumbai, and AISCCON (All India Senior Citizens' Confederation).

Warm Regards,
Sailesh Mishra
Founder - Silver Innings
A dedicated Organisation for Elders and their Family Members
Founder – ARDSI, Greater Mumbai Support Group
Advisor - Society for Serving Seniors
Managing Committee Member - ARDSI, Mumbai Chapter
Mobile: 0091 9819819145
Website : www.silverinnings.com
Blog: http://peopleforsocialcause.blogspot.com/ ;
http://silverinnings.blogspot..com/

WEAAD WALKING MOUNT SNOWDON North Wales, UK Sponsored by: www.elderprotection.co.uk Photo: Ed reaches the Snowdon Summit Tel: 07766126220 Click for larger image WEAAD2008_Snowdow.pdf (620kb)

Ed Mullenger took Awareness of Elder Abuse to a new level on Sunday 15th June when he climbed 3,560 feet above sea level, to the summit of mount Snowdon in Wales. Ed made this cruling climb to highlight the fact that 350,000 elderly people each year in the UK are abused in their own homes. Elder abuse as a hidden problem is now universally accepted, however current adult protection systems are not reaching older people, medication abuse continues to be a major problem, and that in many cases people are being left in bed, or unwashed, or left without food or access to the toilet. Ed emphasises the abuse of older people is a blight on our society and there is a duty on all of us to face up to the challenges.

Ed made his climb in just over 3 hours and encounted changing weather conditions enroute. When he set out, the sun was shining; but just one hour in to his climb, the clouds blocked the sun out and the wind brought in an icey chill. As he reached the summit, the mist desended leaving little of the Snowdonian peaks to be seen.

The summit is marked by a cairn with a brass plaque pointing out the sights that Ed, only just managed to see as the mist cleared for the odd minute allowing for a photo, record of the event to be made.

The Tennessee Vulnerable Adult Coalition, along with the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD), planned a rally at Legislative Plaza in Nashville Tennessee to raise awareness on the issue of elder abuse. Ten organizations had information booths at the rally, including the Metro Nashville Police Department, Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, the YWCA, Adult Protective Services and TCAD. Other remembrances of the date were held in Chattanooga, with a proclamation signed by the mayor, and other east Tennessee communities.

General Sessions Judge Dan Eisenstein was the keynote speaker, who told the crowd of more than 90 persons, of the need for awareness of this issue. He said that as a result of being invited to speak, he has asked the court clerks to start keeping statistics on elder abuse cases in Davidson County. District Attorney Criminal investigator Stan Jablonski told the crowd they had a one in three chance of being abused when they became elderly.

State Senator Douglas Henry, also told the crowd that he supported their work in protecting Tennessee's elderly.

The event was covered by Nashville Public Radio and Channel 4 news. Pre publicity included a local talk show on News Channel 5 discussing the issues with a representative from APS, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Tennessee Vulnerable Adult Coalition. The event was also publicized online in the Tennessean's community pages. A post event interview, again with representatives from APS, TBI and TVAC will be on Nashville's radio 92Q. A MySpace page was also developed and advertised. http://www.myspace.com/tvac2008

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was publicized with 21 billboards throughout the state, funded by AoA Elder Abuse funds and private donations. A picture of the board above. The rally was funded by AoA elder abuse funds. Organizers included Janet Lamb of TCAD, Vickie Lawson, Michelle Mowry Johnson, Lori Krauth and Renee Bouchellon of APS, and Rita Brockman Baker of the Metro Nashville police department.

Politicians showed interest, but most were all out of town as the State Legislature was not in session. Senators and Congressmen did not send representatives.

The most challenging was getting media attention. Even getting on the calendar of events for newspaper and TV stations was an ordeal with unsatisfactory results. Submitting notices through email did not guarantee that it would be opened by the agency at all. Personal contact with the media is necessary for any kind of publicity of the event. The coalition worked the best, in that all were committed to making the event a success and made sure that persons attended in support of the rally.

To get a bigger crowd next year, a poster contest for children might be considered. If we include are day care facilities and plenty of room for displays, we could get children and maybe parents to come to the event. It would also raise awareness of children to look out for their elders. I would continue to have speakers and booths.

The event is worth repeating. It is a worthwhile cause and interest in the topic is going to grow.