Carroll County proclaims June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day; county and hospital highlight new CHART program and provider training

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners on June 5 proclaimed June 15, 2025, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and heard county aging staff and community partners describe local efforts to identify and respond to abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of older residents.

Celine Steckle, director of citizen services, introduced Gail Gannon and Mackenzie Streeter, the county’s ombudsman manager and ombudsman specialist, who described the breadth of the county’s outreach and monitoring work. Gannon and Streeter emphasized that most older adults live in the community — not in long-term care — and that frauds and scams are a growing form of abuse, often unreported because victims feel ashamed.

"By educating senior service providers we create a multiplying effect," Streeter said, describing a June 10 training at the Westminster Senior Center for senior-service providers that will cover how to recognize signs of abuse and how to respond.

Carroll Hospital: CHART for older adults Colleen Moore, manager of Carroll Hospital’s Center for Hope, Abuse and Assault Response Team (CHART), described a newly launched program that provides hospital-based identification and specialized interventions for older adults who present to the hospital with signs of abuse or exploitation. Moore said CHART offers safety-planning, referrals and links to Adult Protective Services and other community supports.

County officials and partners noted the coordinated approach linking the Bureau of Aging and Disabilities, Adult Protective Services, the State's Attorney's Office and CHART.

What’s planned County staff said the June 10 event (9–11:30 a.m. at the Westminster Senior Center) will feature presentations from Carroll Hospital CHART, the Maryland state long-term care ombudsman (on abuse in long-term care settings), Adult Protective Services on its investigative role, and a county state’s attorney investigator on financial exploitation and scams targeted at older adults. County staff asked providers to register with the Bureau of Aging and Disabilities.

Why it matters County officials said demographic trends are increasing the number of older adults in Carroll County and that the county is committed to age-friendly policies and to reducing social isolation, which contributes to vulnerability. The county cited Maryland Attorney General data that an estimated one in five Maryland adults over age 65 has been a victim of fraud.

Quotes "Promoting awareness of elder abuse is more important than ever," Celine Steckle, director of citizen services, said during the presentation.

What happens next The proclamation was adopted and staff said the county will continue the provider-focused training and CHART partnership and encouraged community reporting and coordination among agencies that serve older adults.