Life as an elderly person requires a lot of trust — trust your caregivers will treat you right, trust your finances are managed properly, trust the person knocking at the door or calling your phone isn’t yet another scam attempt and trust your guardians won’t take advantage of your trust.

It can be a lot for all involved, and it can take a lot out of an elderly person to recover from the effects of elder abuse breaking that trust.

To that end, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day has been recognized each year on June 15 to raise awareness of abuse, neglect and exploitation of elders. This year is no exception.

According to the Alabama Department of Senior Services, an estimated 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation each year. This can include physical abuse, such as hitting; withholding or giving too much medication and isolation; sexual abuse; emotional abuse, such as threats, intimidation or speaking in a way to intentionally cause distress; neglect or abandonment; financial exploitation through unauthorized use of funds or property; and health care fraud and abuse.

ADSS and the Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Neglect have produced an online Elder Abuse Prevention Toolkit to help combat cases of elder abuse in Alabama, available at http://bit.ly/EAPToolkit. The kit provides resources and tips to help seniors spot scams and see signs of abuse before it happens to them, according to a press release from ADSS.

“Education and outreach is essential in making sure that our seniors are protected from potential harm,” ADSS Acting Commissioner Todd Cotton said. “When we come together as a community, reduce isolation and report instances of abuse, neglect and exploitation, we all assist in this prevention effort.”

In Limestone County, the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office has a senior advisory council that’s “very active in the community in educating and protecting seniors,” Sheriff Mike Blakely said.

“A lot of times it takes elders longer to recoup, especially if there’s been physical or even financial abuse, from the effects of that abuse,” Blakely said. “We need to be vigilant, and we try to be vigilant not only in our prevention programs but support programs in the community.”

The Alabama Securities Commission also encourages financial professionals and the public to be on alert for suspected financial abuse, including potential abuse by guardians assigned to oversee financial matters of seniors no longer able to do so for themselves.

“A trusted guardian can be a wonderful resource,” ASC Director Joseph Borg said. “But sometimes guardians may take advantage of the trust placed in them to look after the people or assets in their care.”

The North American Securities Administrators Association recently developed a resource to help call attention to red flags of suspected financial elder abuse. Those signs include transferring property for the guardian’s benefit; receiving personal payments without permission; authorizing frequent cash withdrawals; and making unexplained decisions that are not in the senior’s best interest.

The full list is available online at www.serveourseniors.org.

Blakely also encouraged families to remain aware of changes in behavior in elders, especially in cases where the elder family member spends a large percentage of their time away from the family, either in a care facility or home alone.

“It’s important to check on them and that the family is observant,” Blakely said. “Take note of anything their loved one may or do that’s abnormal for them.”

Anyone who suspects elder abuse is encouraged to contact authorities. The sheriff’s office can be reached at 256-232-0211. To report an incident to the Alabama Department of Human Resources, call the Adult Protective Services Abuse Hotline at 800-458-7214.

To report suspicions of exploitation by guardians to the ASC, call 800-222-1253.