The Big Sandy Council on Elder Maltreatment launched a public awareness campaign during May’s Older Americans Month to combat elder abuse by placing a purple rocking chair with informational signage in various locations across the Big Sandy Area Development District's five counties. The color purple symbolizes the growing problem of elder abuse around the world. Each year, an estimated 5 million older persons are abused, neglected or exploited.

Starting at the BSADD, the chair moved to several key sites, including U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers’ Prestonsburg office, the BSADD Board of Directors meeting, Sandy Valley Transportation Services Inc., the Mountain Regional Prevention Center, and the Floyd County Farm Bureau, ending at the Regional KY Works office. The campaign extended into June for World Elder Abuse Month.