When it comes to our world, it’s always a good time to check in with how we can love it back for providing us with a home all these years.

Friday, July 30 is considered International Day of Friendship. Celebrate with these ways you can show the people you love the most just how much they mean to you.

Equal Justice Works - Equal Justice Works Fellows working in the Elder Justice Program serve older adult victims of crime in response to epidemic levels of elder abuse in the United States. Although cases of elder abuse and exploitation are very common, they are not always easy to spot at an initial client meeting. Public interest attorneys are uniquely positioned to identify abuse against older adults and help them recover, not only through civil legal remedies, but also through targeted referrals.

Here are six ways to combat elder abuse in any practice area.

1. Appreciate the Extent of Elder Abuse in Our Society

The Elder Justice Act of 2009 defines elder abuse as “the knowing infliction of physical or psychological harm or the knowing deprivation of goods or services that are necessary to meet essential needs or to avoid physical or psychological harm of an individual age 60 or older.” At least 10% of people 60 and older experience abuse, and most of these crimes go unreported; studies suggest as few as 1 in 24 cases of elder abuse are ever reported. The trauma of elder abuse can lead to hospitalization, depression, social issues, and financial loss, all of which contribute to diminished independence and quality of life.