06/15/2026
Today, June 15th, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Local law enforcement is committed to investigating crimes against older adults and participate in several organizations to help spread awareness and collaborate responses.
Chief Booth chairs our local Merrymeeting Bay Area Triad organization, which is a collaboration of law enforcement, older adults, and other organizations, serving as an elder abuse task force. He is also a member of the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention and the State's Elder Justice Coordinating Partnership.
One of the goals of these groups is increasing awareness of elder abuse. This can be done in an number of ways, such as giving safety talks, scam presentations, or other education to community groups. We oftentimes collaborate with other groups, such as financial institutions, AARP, Adult Protective Services, and others.
Scams seem to be the biggest issue that come to our attention, oftentimes targeting older adults, but we also see cases of neglect and financial exploitation. These are all areas to watch for, and report. Help us to spread the word and attention to this important topic. Thank you.