The Canada Safety Council states in a recent campaign that “old age is not a crime”.

Here’s more information from the CSC website on the topic of elder abuse. Far too often in Canada, seniors are made to feel like they’re a burden, an inconvenience, and a problem. This needs to stop. National Senior Safety Week is in November each year and in 2020 the Canada Safety Council, in conjunction with Juniper Park\TBWA, decided to showcase the severity and the complexity of elder abuse. “We really wanted to jolt people awake to the severity of the issue. That’s why we went in this direction,” said Gareth Jones, President and CEO of the Canada Safety Council. “We understand that the images may be triggering to some and shocking to others, but that is the point. This is real life for many seniors across the country and we need to address it.”

To see the images referred to go to canadasafetycouncil.org According to statistics available from Statistics Canada, there were 12,202 elder victims of police-reported violence in 2018. One-third of these seniors were victimized by a family member. Further, of these victims of family-related violence, 63 percent had physical force used against them.

Elder abuse can take many forms, but typically falls into one of the following categories: Physical — deliberate use of force resulting in pain or injury; Emotional — humiliation, intimidation or blame, for instance, causing psychological pain or distress; Sexual — contact without consent; Neglect — abdication of caretaking obligations, whether intentional or not, and Financial — unauthorized use or control of an elder’s finances.

Keep a watchful eye for any signs of abuse. These can include, but are not limited to: depression, isolation, unexplained injuries or bruises, broken or damaged personal effects, unusual weight loss, unkempt appearance, lack of season-appropriate wear, sudden changes in spending habits.

If you are concerned and believe you are spotting any of these signs, call and visit as often as you can. Being present for the potentially abused senior can help you gain their trust and see their living conditions firsthand. The Canada Safety Council goes on to say that if the elder does not want your help, accept their boundary but continue checking in with them. It can help to know they aren’t going through the situation alone and that they have allies and people who care about their well-being. Report any witnessed or confided abuse to the police. Do not confront the abuser directly — this could lead to the unintended side effect of putting the abused senior in more danger.

Community Care can answer questions about elder abuse.

Call 613-476-7493 for more info.

-Debbie MacDonald Moynes