World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025: Theme, Quotes And All You Need To Know

Last Updated:June 15, 2025, 07:30 IST

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025: Approximately one in six people aged 60 and above experiences some form of abuse each year.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025: Observed annually on June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is a global initiative launched in 2006 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA). It was officially recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011.

According to WHO and its partners, approximately one in six people aged 60 and above experiences some form of abuse each year—whether physical, emotional, financial, or neglect in community settings. The consequences are profound, ranging from physical injuries and psychological trauma to malnutrition and even premature death.

Alarmingly, elder abuse often occurs in settings meant to provide safety and care, such as private homes, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities, and is frequently perpetrated by trusted individuals responsible for their well-being.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025: Theme

To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day each year, the United Nations hosts an event centered around a dedicated theme. For 2025, the chosen theme is: “Addressing Abuse of Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities: Through Data and Action.”

This theme underscores the critical need for reliable data collection and enhanced staff training in long-term care settings to prevent abuse and neglect. It highlights the importance of evidence-based strategies and practical interventions to protect older adults in institutional environments.

The UN also pointed to demographic projections that signal a pressing concern: the global population of people over 60 is expected to double, from 900 million in 2015 to 2 billion by 2050. This rapid ageing trend adds urgency to the need for systemic improvements in elder care.

To commemorate the day, the UN will host a virtual conference, where experts will present data on elder abuse, share best practices, and discuss effective solutions aimed at strengthening protections for older adults and fostering long-term, sustainable change in care systems.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025: History

The origins of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) can be traced back to the 1982 UN International Plan of Action on Ageing, an early initiative aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of older adults. While the call to action began then, it gained significant momentum in 2006 with the launch of WEAAD by the World Health Organization and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, and was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2011.

Since then, June 15 has been observed annually as WEAAD, serving as a global platform to raise awareness, encourage dialogue, and mobilise action to prevent and address elder abuse worldwide.

How you can help curb elder abuse?

• Educate and empower: Hold/attend webinars or local events that discuss warning signs of abuse, such as unexplained injuries, financial loss, withdrawal or neglect.
• Engage with older adults: Call or visit older adults in your family or community. Making connections reduces isolation and can help raise awareness. You can help caregivers by providing respite, encouraging self-care and reducing stress for caregivers. Stress is a known risk factor for burnout, leading to abuse.
• Identify abuse: When at a care home, keep an eye out for signs of neglect: bedsores, missing medication, sudden behaviour changes, bad hygiene, etc
• Speak up: If you suspect elder abuse, you can report it to local adult protective services, healthcare professionals or authorities.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025: Quotes

1. “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” – Mahatma Gandhi
2. “The most precious gift you can give someone is your time, your attention, your love, and your concern.” – Joel Osteen
3. “Our elders are the roots of our families and communities, and we must protect them.” – Anonymous
4. “To care for anyone else enough to make their problems one’s own, is ever the beginning of one’s real life.” – Caroline E. Stephen
5. “Ageing is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” – Betty Friedan

Bhaswati Sengupta

Bhaswati Sengupta is a Sub-Editor at News18, where she works closely with the Web Stories and Photo Gallery team to create visually engaging and impactful digital content. She also contributes to Lifestyle sect…Read More

Bhaswati Sengupta is a Sub-Editor at News18, where she works closely with the Web Stories and Photo Gallery team to create visually engaging and impactful digital content. She also contributes to Lifestyle sect… Read More

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