Outgoing Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sounded the alarm loudly and clearly earlier this year on the pervasive scope of pernicious abuse against senior citizens in our state and in our community.

In remarks to the state’s Elder Abuse Commission, he reported that in the past seven years, Ohio has recorded a 400% increase in cases of reported elder abuse, which includes neglect as well as physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and financial exploitation. Even more astounding: In the vast majority of cases, the abuser knows the victim well.

But here’s the rub: Only 1 in 5 cases of abuse is actually reported to authorities, according to Ohio Department of Aging estimates.

Do the math, and the shocking breadth of the crisis comes into focus: As many as 30,000 seniors in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties out of a population of more than 150,000 Ohioans 60 and older run the risk of abuse annually.

Clearly, that level — or any level of elder abuse — is unacceptable.

If nothing is done, those deplorable and lamentable numbers are sure to rise simply given the demographic changes spurred on by the graying of America.

In the Buckeye State, the number of adults older than 60, which stands at about 2.2 million, is expected to soar to 3.0 million by 2030, according to the Ohio Department of Aging. Trumbull County already has made the so-called “flip” in which seniors outnumber residents 18 years old and younger, according to data from the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University.

As seniors’ ranks continue to grow, so, too, must quality-of-life concerns that directly affect them, not the least of which is elder abuse and combating it in any of its many despicable forms.

What’s even more troubling, however, is that elder abuse remains a grossly underreported crime. The National Center for Elder Abuse believes the scope of the social malady is far worse than Ohio and other governments estimate.

Studies by NCEA and the National Council on Aging indicate only 1 in 24 of elder-abuse cases overall and only 1 in 44 cases of financial exploitation are reported to authorities.

Given those grim findings, June’s international observance of Elder Abuse Awareness Month should take on added significance that translates into difference-making action.

The World Health Organization defines elder abuse as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person.”

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says it deals with myriad types of abuse reports from victims, their families and loved ones. They include neglect by others, self-neglect, financial exploitation and sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

Because so many victims are too proud to reveal that they unwittingly let others take advantage of them, it is up to all of us to recognize the most common signs and report them to authorities.

Toward that end, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has issued alerts warning Ohioans to be on the lookout for any of many potential signs of maltreatment toward seniors.

Those include scratches, cuts, bruises and other visible evidence of physical harm; sudden and inexplicable behavioral or mood changes; caregivers who refuse to allow visitors to see the adult alone; hazardous or unsanitary living conditions and unexplained, sudden transfers of assets or finances to another person.

Fortunately, a relatively new law in Ohio strengthens the incentives for reporting such crimes. New requirements broaden the definition of a mandatory reporter to pull in professions that have the ability to spot issues from many perspectives. Those include pharmacists, dialysis technicians, firefighters, first responders and bank tellers.

If members of any mandated group fails to report suspected abuse, they face fines of up to $500.

More widespread reporting of abuse represents one first step toward bringing this egregious crime out of the shadows. If you suspect potential abuse, do not hesitate to call Adult Protective Services at 330-884-6952 or 330-884-6931, or call the help hot line after 4 p.m. or on weekends at 330-747-2696. Yost maintains a statewide hot line as well at 1-800-282-0515.

During this Elder Abuse Awareness Month, clearly we must muster up more than mere awareness. This month and every month, we must commit to act to lessen the scope of these cruel and heartless crimes that rob our state’s proud older residents of their hard-earned dollars and well-deserved dignity.