June 15: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Since 2006, communities nationwide and globally have observed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15. This official United Nations International Day aims to increase the visibility of this pressing issue by organizing events to share information and promote resources and services that enhance seniors’ safety and well-being.
Elder abuse networks, including the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA), spearhead multiple WEAAD activities across the country to mobilize community action and engage people in discussions on promoting the dignity and respect of older adults. By highlighting elder abuse and neglect as significant public health and human rights concerns, this day encourages communities worldwide to unite in raising awareness, promoting understanding, and fostering a culture of respect and support for our elders.
At KnowledgeFlow, we believe it’s essential to extend this care into the digital sphere by developing cybersecurity initiatives designed specifically for seniors. Unfortunately, seniors have become a frequent target for fraudsters and cybercriminals, and even though only 5-10% of cases get reported, a staggering 17,000 reports were made in 2022, totaling $137.8 million in losses. This highlights the need for increased awareness and protection to safeguard seniors from these threats. By prioritizing their digital security, we can empower them to stay connected and confident in their online activities, while also protecting their financial well-being and personal information.
Our Cybersafety Initiatives for Older Adults
We have developed comprehensive Cybersafety Initiatives to empower seniors with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves. These initiatives enable seniors to navigate the digital world safely, ensuring their financial and personal information remains secure while maintaining their social connections.
KnowledgeNet: Our Newest Program – Avoid Getting Caught in our Phishing Net!
- Our newly released initiative, a 3-part program designed by seniors for seniors to reduce the impact of cyber fraud and online scams.
- By providing seniors with the tools and knowledge to recognize and avoid scams, we help protect their financial and personal information from cybercriminals.
KnowledgeWeb: Knowledge To Help You Manage Your Finances in the Digital Age.
- It can be difficult for seniors to stay involved in daily financial activities such as bill paying, finance monitoring, depositing and withdrawing of funds, filing taxes, etc. as more of these activities are done online.
- We created the Digital Financial Literacy Program – to help seniors understand and feel confident using these important tools.
KnowledgeConnect: Enable seniors to safely and easily connect with their loved ones.
- Seniors need to have access to safely and easily connect with others, whether they live independently or in a long-term care facility.
- This initiative ensures that seniors can maintain their social connections without compromising their online safety.
Stay Safe Online with Our Resources
To further support our senior community, we offer a range of comprehensive cybersafety resources:
- The Grandparent Scam: 5 Helpful Tips To Tell Fraud From Family: This resource provides practical tips to distinguish between genuine family contacts and potential scammers.
- Scammer Trick: Phishing – How To Spot It And Stop It: Understand how phishing scams work and learn how to identify and avoid them.
- The SAFE Scan: A comprehensive guide to scanning your devices for security vulnerabilities and protecting your personal information.
- Password Managers: What They Are And How To Use Them: The resource explains the importance of using unique passwords for each account to enhance security and highlights the feature of secure notes in password managers, which can be used to maintain pseudonymity online by keeping track of fabricated information.
Join Us
As we observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting seniors and ensuring they can enjoy the benefits of technology without compromising their safety. This day is a crucial reminder of the need to protect our elders from all forms of abuse, including cyber threats.
We invite you to participate in our initiatives, explore our resources, and spread the word about the importance of cybersafety for seniors. Together, we can create a safer digital environment for everyone. Visit our Seniors Cybersafety Page to learn more and get started today.