Elder abuse is a bigger problem than you might think because it often goes unreported.

Seniors and caregivers in Yuma and La Paz counties should be aware of elder abuse and report anything suspicious.

This is a message from senior care advocates in Yuma, including Carol Brown. She is the program development and advocacy manager for the Western Arizona Council of Government.

According to Brown, elder abuse is physical, emotional and financial in nature and can come from relatives or trusted individuals. She said we need to talk about it to remove the stigma.

“If you’re an older adult, stand up,” Brown told KAWC. You can stand up for that person in your life.”

Experts say elder abuse can be a “silent crime” because it isn’t always reported. Brown said abuse could come from spouses, siblings, children, or older grandchildren.

Arizona has “vulnerable adult abuse” laws, but not specifically elder abuse laws. WACOG serves Yuma, La Paz, and Mojave is defending

One form of elder abuse is financial fraud, said Wendy Steward, a financial adviser to Edward Jones in Yuma. This could be a robocall to someone requesting personal information. Because, according to the phone, I need to pay the bill.

Grandparent scams may target seniors where the caller pretends to be their grandchild and asks for money. Also, long-distance relationship scams can target widows or widowers or single seniors who appear to be in a relationship where the scammer demands money.

John Hessinger, director of community development at the Better Business Bureau in Yuma, reminds us that city hall, the IRS, and other public agencies will not call customers and demand payment. And paying with a gift card is never a legitimate transaction, Hessinger said.

A talk on Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention will be held on February 21 at 2:30 PM at the Foothills Library.