Mayor Randy Pogue proclaimed a day in June recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and encouraged Kearney residents to watch for and prevent elder abuse.

Marie Steiner, a member of the Clay County Senior Services board, received the proclamation on behalf of the senior-services group and spelled out the six commonly recognized forms of elder abuse: physical, emotional or psychological, sexual, neglect or abandonment by a caregiver, financial exploitation and health-care fraud and abuse. Steiner distributed purple awareness ribbons and listed signs to watch for, including lack of basic amenities, filthy living conditions, unexplained sexually transmitted diseases, unpaid bills or new credit cards, and increased cash withdrawals.

Steiner urged residents to report suspected abuse to local authorities and said a 24/7 hotline number was provided during her remarks; the phone number was not fully recorded in the meeting transcript. The proclamation text presented to the board references the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and a 2006 United Nations plan of action as background for the observance.

The proclamation document as read in the meeting contains two inconsistent dates: the text header recognizes June 18, 2025, while the mayor's closing language proclaims June 15, 2025. Mayor Randy Pogue signed the proclamation and encouraged the community to “recognize and celebrate our older adults and their ongoing contributions to the success and vitality of our country.”

No board vote was required for the proclamation; it was presented as mayoral recognition. City staff and the Clay County senior-services representative urged residents to use available reporting channels for suspected elder abuse.