GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Gwinnett County is receiving a $750,000 federal grant to help prevent elder abuse and educate older adults about how to protect themselves.

Gwinnett County Solicitor-General Lisa-Marie Bristol says the money will be used for education and awareness programs focused on elder abuse prevention.

“Educating and promoting elder abuse prevention and initiatives in our community,” Bristol said.

Bristol says older adults can be particularly vulnerable to criminals as technology continues to change.

“As people get older whether we like to admit it or not, they can be more vulnerable. Technology is moving quickly, things are happening, and it’s easy for people to be taken advantage of,” Bristol said.

The grant will also be used to train first responders to recognize signs of elder abuse.

“Having our fire and EMT having the skills to look deeper than surface level I think will do amazing things for this community,” Bristol said.

Bristol says many cases of elder abuse are never reported to law enforcement.

“For every one case of elder abuse that is reported to law enforcement, there’s probably 23 that go unreported,” Bristol said.

Education efforts will include information about abuse, exploitation, neglect and financial exploitation, along with ways older adults can protect themselves.

“Give them a presentation on elder abuse exploitation and neglect, financial exploitation, and/or what abuse may look like. We like to talk to them about ways to be safe and to keep themselves safe,” Bristol said.

The grant is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and does not require any county funding