To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Interagency Network for Aging is hosting a panel discussion.

The event will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt., and is free and open to the public.

Speakers will include District Attorney Charles Branson, elder lawyer Molly Wood and Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services attorney Rebecca Gerhardt.

The group will talk about what elder abuse is, how to identify abuse and what to do if you suspect abuse is occurring.

There will also be a question-and-answer segment.

Elder abuse includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse as well as financial exploitation.

A 1996 study found that while an estimated 500,000 older Americans were abused, only 16 percent of those cases were reported.

For more information, contact Sandra Kelly-Allen with the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department at 843-3060.