SENIOR health bosses in Worcestershire have thrown their support behind an annual campaign working to stamp out abuse of elderly people.

The Worcestershire Adult Safeguarding Board – a collaboration of health bodies and other organisations with responsibility for ensuring the wellbeing of adults in the county – has thrown its support behind Monday’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

The global awareness campaign, which is held on June 15 every year, aims to highlight the abuse and neglect of older people and call for action to be taken to stamp out the problem.

The board’s community awareness lead Jo Galloway said: “It is important that we provide help and support for our older generations and do all that we can to ensure their health and wellbeing and protect them from harm and distress.

“World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is the perfect opportunity to make sure that individuals and organisations are working together and doing all they can to prevent the mistreatment of older adults.”

The campaign was established by the United Nations and is run in the UK by AEA, a charity working to protect vulnerable adults.

Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for adult social care Cllr Sheila Blagg, who is also a member of the safeguarding board said she and her colleagues were committed to ensuring older people were able to live lives free of abuse and proper support was given to those who were.

For more information on the campaign visit www.elderabuse.org.uk.