Commissioners proclaim June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The Highland County Board of Commissioners proclaimed June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Representatives from Highland County Job and Family Services, including Director Debbie Robbins, Lisa Higley, and Susan Roades, were on hand to accept the proclamation.

Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer were all present.

The Senate Special Committee on Aging estimates that there may be as many as 5 million elder abuse victims each year in the United States. And while this number is quite staggering, only around 16 percent of these abusive situations are referred for help.

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, elder abuse is a term referring to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. The specificity of laws varies from state to state, but broadly defined, abuse may be: physical abuse, emotional abuse and/or exploitation.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of abuse, exploitation or neglect, it is important to report the suspected abuse. Call your doctor or confide in a family member or friend you trust, or call the Highland County Department of Jobs and Family Services at (937) 393-4278 to report elder abuse occurring in the community.

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Commissioners also passed resolutions for the Law Library, Clerk of Courts, Block Grants, OVRDC, Job and Family Services and the Highland County EMA.

Block grant projects that have been proposed for approval on June 13 include: Equipment for the Southern Highland Joint Fire District, a city of Hillsboro paving project on South High Street, a Young Road paving project in Jackson Township, and a paving project on Dana and Faye avenues in Lynchburg.

A series of grant resolution approvals for the Probation Department were rescinded.

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In other business, Commissioner Shaffer provided updates on several projects and budgets, including airport maintenance, the Family and Children First Council budget, the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program, and the office space in the North High annex for the county Veterans Service office.

Commissioners expressed concern that the veterans office be relocated before the end of this year.

"We're not in the property business," Shaffer said. "We don't have the money to maintain that building," which is in need of repairs, he said.

"We have some (VSC) board members who don't want to move," Wilkin said.

"We've got to find something," Horst said. "We do not have extra space."

"I don't want it to be 'hearsay' that the commissioners are kicking VSC out," Shaffer said.

"I agree," Horst responded.

"Should we find space or should they find it?" Wilkin asked.

"I think it should be mutual," Shaffer said.

"How about a letter to the VSC board and we ask Jeremy to meet with them?" Wilkin proposed.

It was agreed that a letter would be sent to the Veterans Service Commission board and that Shaffer would attend the June 19 VSC board meeting.