A number of agencies today tried to bring attention to a serious and tragic problem. The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence observed National Elderly Abuse Awareness Day at St. Andrews Tower retirement home in downtown Panama City.

The Bay County sheriffs office, Florida Department of Children and Families, Salvation Army and other agencies make-up the coalition.

Elder Abuse often goes un-recognized and unreported, affecting more than 10% of America's elderly population.

About 30-vendors participated in Friday's awareness day, offering services and information about elderly issues.
Courtney Peel is Administrator, Florida DCF in Panama City. "St. Andrews Towers let us come downtown and set up more than 30 vendors which are here to provide services to our elders. There's hearing testing, blood pressure testing information about your vision, services that are out there for this population"

Elderly Abuse Reports
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Bay 659
Okaloosa 374
Jackson 283
Walton 141
Washington 89
Holmes 74
Calhoun 45
Gulf 38

There were more than 3-thousand reports of elderly abuse and exploitation in the 1st and 14th Judicial Districts last year. That’s the area from Pensacola to the Apalachicola river.

Bay County had the most reports of abuse in our viewing area, followed by Okaloosa, Jackson, Walton, Washington, Holmes, Calhoun and Gulf Counties.

If you suspect a case of elderly or disabled abuse, neglect or exploitation, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873.