The elderly have been treated to an afternoon of bingo and prizes to raise awareness about senior abuse.

Ageing and Disability Services hosted its fourth annual event at Devonshire Recreational Club to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Rokeyah Brown, the ADS social worker who organised the event, said she wanted to try something different this year instead of the usual tea party.

She added: “A lot of our seniors do not get out that often, so we really want to encourage everyone to engage their community and to socialise with others around them.

“It just gives them a sense of togetherness and lets them know that if something’s ever happening, they know exactly the numbers to call or they feel free to reach out to their family and friends.”

The free event treated seniors to lunch and musical entertainment, which included live singing by Quinn Outerbridge.

The 120 attendees also had the chance to win prizes during hours of bingo and a true-or-false question period about elder abuse.

Ms Brown said events such as these helped seniors to stay active and social while also learning about the particulars of abuse.

She added that ADS held events throughout the year to keep the conversation going.

They included setting up an information stand during the Ag Show, holding talks at churches and appearing on radio shows.

Ms Brown added that since launching year-round events, her office received significantly more calls about elder abuse — something she directly attributed to awareness.

She said: “Our caseloads have tremendously increased over the past few years, so I do think that people are becoming a lot more aware of our offices.

“Not just people in the community but also our partners that we’re now working with like the Bermuda Police Service.

“They send us referrals weekly, maybe even daily.”

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, said she was constantly mindful of ageing as a fact of life, and had learnt to see it as “beautiful”.

Ms Furbert explained: “When I look out and I see some very familiar faces, I am reminded how beautiful ageing is and I want you do know that.

“It comes with its wisdom, it comes with its strength and it comes with its spirits of the Bermuda we know and we love.”

Ms Furbert reminded attendees that they deserved to feel safe, understood and cherished.

She added: “I want you to know that you are never alone. Even though sometimes you are home alone and you are feeling loneliness, you’re never alone.”

Ms Furbert told attendees that Bermuda was their home that “loves you without question”.

She said: “You raised us, you worked, sacrificed and prayed for this country and the people in it and you carried this country on your shoulders.

“So today, my wish is that you are held close and you feel it, through your community, the very same way that you have held us.”

The new format seemed to impress attendees.

Valerie Richards, 79, said she played bingo three times a week at different clubs.

“It’s my thing,” she explained, “so when I was told about this, I thought ‘this should be fun’.”

Ms Richards, from Pembroke, said events such as these kept her entertained and connected with others her age.

She said she met seniors in their 80s and 90s, adding: “It’s good to be out and enjoying ourselves with other seniors.”

Lynn Hodsoll, 87, said she always tried to stay active through her social clubs and saw the new event as no different.

She said: “I’m out a lot because I like it. It keeps me connected, gets me out of the house and I love it.”