WOOD RIVER — State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons will speak from noon to 1 p.m. about elder abuse and Lock Your Meds to employees of Help at Home Inc. at the Wood River Moose Lodge, 730 Wesley Drive.
Gibbons will discuss the many types of elder abuse that can occur, including physical, sexual, neglect, emotional, and abandonment. He encourages everyone to call 911 if abuse is suspected. It can also be reported to a 24-hour Elder Abuse Hotline at (866) 800-1409.
He also will discuss the Lock Your Meds campaign that works to make adults aware of the dangers of their legal medications being abused by others, especially young people. The Drug Enforcement Administration estimates more than 7 million Americans abuse prescription drugs. Among abusers older than 12, research shows 70 percent obtain the drugs from friends and family members. It is estimated that more than 4,000 young adults and children have their first experiment with prescription drugs every day.
More information on Help at Home can be found at www.helpathome.com. Additionally, more information on Elder Abuse and Lock Your Meds can be found on the State’s Attorney’s Office’s website at www.madco-sa.org. Gibbons and assistant state’s attorneys regularly speak to community and business groups on a variety of topics. To request a speaker, contact the office at (618) 692-6280.
Help at Home provides various types of home assistance as an option over placing individuals into nursing homes.