June 23, 2025 Your Source for Brentwood News

Wise & Healthy Aging Goes Gray on Denim Day

In observance of April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a nonprofit that advances the dignity and quality of life for older adults, wore the color gray on Denim Day, April 24, to shed light on sexual abuse that is chronically underreported and under identified in the aging community.

As an organization, WISE & Healthy Aging started participating in Denim Day, an international campaign designated to protest erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault, in 2018.

Denim Day in Los Angeles was founded in 1999, when a rape conviction was overturned in Italy because the victim was wearing tight jeans that could only be removed by her, which, to the courts, implied consent. Roman Parliamentarians were furious, and coined the term, “jean alibi.” California lawmakers wore jeans on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento in solidarity with the Roman legislators.

“We started wearing gray to help elevate the awareness of older sexual assault survivors, because there are misconceptions — that older people are immune to sexual assault, but that’s not the case. Sexual assault is about power and control, and that makes older people sometimes the target of someone who is trying to assert power and control,” said WISE President and CEO, Molly Davies.

Not only did the organization wear denim in support of Denim Day, but the gray shirts support added awareness of sexual violence among the aging population.

“To us, it helps elevate the voice of older survivors and really, it’s a conversation starter. Participating in this campaign opens the door to raise awareness, it normalizes having those uncomfortable conversations to encourage healing,” Davies said. “Not only do survivors of sexual assault get older, but also sexual assault happens to older adults.”

Sexual violence is one of the many forms of abuse that WISE & Healthy Aging works to eliminate. Through leadership, advocacy and its wide range of innovative services, the organization advances the dignity and quality of life of older adults.

“When you see one form of abuse — financial, neglect, physical, sexual — there’s often more than one occurring at a time. It’s known that one in 10 older adults experience some sort of abuse and when you think about the impact it has on the victim, it should raise concern for all members of the community,” said Miles McNeeley, Vice President of Elder Abuse Prevention at WISE.

A person experiencing elder abuse is three times more likely to die, twice as likely to be hospitalized, and physical and mental health deterioration is greater when abuse is occurring, McNeeley said.

Elder abuse is often not reported, for fear of loss of autonomy or decision making, but McNeeley said it is important to report, so a plan of action can be developed.

“Financial abuse or exploitation can be violating and stigmatized by society, it affects people so deeply, so we have support groups in place for older adults to share their experiences and get support,” McNeeley said.

When elder abuse is suspected, it is important to contact the appropriate agency depending on whether the abuse occurred in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or in the home. For more information on how to recognize the signs of abuse and where to report it, go to the Elder Justice Guide at wiseandhealthaging.org.

To investigate abuse, WISE has a team of advocates and a multidisciplinary team in place to review cases and garner solutions, in addition to its Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program that serves as advocates for seniors and adults with disabilities in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. For more information on Wise & Healthy Aging and resources, visit wiseandhealthyaging.org.

in News
Related Posts

Recent Homebuyer Down Payments Slip for First Time in Nearly Two Years

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

April’s Median Down Payment Fell as Buyers Lean Toward Lower-Cost Homes The median down payment made by U.S. homebuyers dropped...

Del Rey Affordable Housing Project to Rise on Former Charter School Site

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Community Corp., Local Faith Group Team Up to Build 122 New Apartments Plans are moving forward for a new residential...

Paris Hilton Buys Mark Wahlberg’s Beverly Park Mansion for $63.1M

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

The Heiress and Media Mogul Joins a Star-Studded Neighborhood Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum have purchased a high-profile estate...

A.O.C. Brentwood to Close After 16 Years on San Vicente Boulevard

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Chef Goin and Styne Cite Unsustainably High Rent in Decision to Close  A.O.C. Brentwood, the acclaimed Westside outpost from James...

Brentwood Book Signing Explores Why Wolves Matter to Nature’s Balance

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Children’s Author Karen B. Winnick to Appear June 22 at DIESEL, A Bookstore Children’s author and wildlife advocate Karen B....

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

LA City Councilwomen Yaroslavsky and Jurado Call for Legal Action Against Federal Immigration Raids

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

City Motion Targets Alleged Unconstitutional Tactics, End Qualified Immunity for Fed Officers  City Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Ysabel Jurado introduced...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

Princess Diana’s Largest Wardrobe Auction Set for Beverly Hills

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Over 200 Royal Garments to Hit the Auction Block for Charity More than 200 garments and royal artifacts, including the...

Queer Beauty Through the Ages: Getty Hosts Lecture on Greek Art’s Influence on LGBTQ Aesthetics

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Art Historian to Trace Homoerotic Imagery From Ancient Greece to Modern Queer Identity As part of its ongoing Pride Month...

Food Fight on the Venice Boardwalk: Chefs Stand Up for Immigrants with Food

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Turk’s Pizza Party Rallies Top Local Eateries for an Immigrant Rights Fundraiser In a bold display of culinary activism, Turk’s...

Navy Vietnam Vet Finally Gets His UCLA Commencement Moment

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

John Fong, 80, Missed His Graduation in 1968 While in Vietnam  Nearly six decades after completing his studies, U.S. Navy...

Films, Flair, and Panoramas: Free Cultural Events Light Up The Ebell This Week

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

The Ebell Theatre Hosts a Double Feature of Films, Plus a Coffee Talk A pair of free public events this...

9th Circuit Court Backs Trump in Battle Over California National Guard Control

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Federal Judges Allow Trump to Retain Command of Troops in Los Angeles Federal judges on Thursday cleared the way for...

Nightly I-405 Lane Closures Begin June 23 for Sepulveda Pass Rehab

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Caltrans Will Shut Down Select Lanes Nightly Through June 28 The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced overnight lane...