Seniors First BC estimates about eight per cent of B.C. seniors experience some form of abuse – but that number could be even higher as many older adults are often reluctant to report abuse.
Prior to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Friday, June 15, the Ministry of Health contributed $1.4 million to support elder abuse awareness and prevention. The province provided $1.1 million to the B.C. Association of Community Response Networks and $300,000 to Seniors First B.C.
"Recognizing elder abuse, and knowing who to report it to, is key," Isobel Mackenzie, British Columbia's seniors advocate, said in a press release. "These grants to two vital agencies will help to achieve this."
According to the Ministry of Health, elder abuse, including neglect, is defined as a single or repeated act, or a lack of appropriate action, that causes harm or distress to an older person. Elder abuse – which can be physical, emotional, verbal, financial, sexual, spiritual or neglectful – can take place in a senior's home, a care facility or in the community, and often involves a person in a position of trust or a situation of dependency.
"We all play a part in making sure our communities are safe places where seniors can live life to the fullest," B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a press release. "Supporting the B.C. Association of Community Response Networks and Seniors First B.C. helps protect the people who once protected us by raising awareness of the signs of elder abuse and neglect, and where people can to turn to for help."
The B.C. Association of Community Response Networks is the co-ordinating body for Community Response Networks (CRN), which are networks of individuals, groups and agencies that work together to promote a co-ordinated community response to elder abuse and neglect.
Provincial funding will help the BC CRN to strengthen its existing networks and workshops, like It's Not Right! and Gatekeeper, which are educational programs that teach people how to recognize signs of abuse and neglect and how they can help. It's Not Right! is aimed at community members, while Gatekeeper is geared toward people who have regular contact with seniors or vulnerable adults.
Seniors First B.C. works to prevent elder abuse and provide assistance and support to seniors who are being abused, or at risk of being abused. Seniors First B.C. provides direct assistance to seniors, and also assists agencies, health professionals, first responders, neighbours, landlords, businesses and the general public with information about how to prevent elder abuse.
Provincial funding will support Seniors First B.C.'s toll-free Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL), where seniors and their loved ones can talk to someone about elder abuse and receive referrals on where to get help. Since 2009, tens of thousands of seniors and the people who care about them have reached out to SAIL.
"Our staff, who answer SAIL, are trained to provide a listening, non-judgmental and supportive ear,” said Sarah Khan, acting executive director and clinic lawyer with Seniors First B.C. “SAIL staff will refer callers with legal issues to our legal staff, and will refer victims of abuse or family and sexual violence to our Victim Services Program."
According to the Government of Canada, one in five Canadians believes they know of a senior who might be experiencing some form of abuse. Seniors from all walks of life are vulnerable to elder abuse.
“Elder abuse is any action by someone in a relationship of trust that results in harm or distress to an older person. Neglect is a lack of action by that person in a relationship of trust with the same result. Commonly recognized types of elder abuse include physical, psychological and financial. Often, more than one type of abuse occurs at the same time,” states the government’s website. “Abuse can be a single incident or a repeated pattern of behaviour.”
According to the federal government older adults affected by abuse often know and trust the person mistreating them. Elder abuse can be caused by a family member, a friend, someone who provides assistance with basic needs or services, or health care providers in institutional settings. In many situations of elder abuse, the abuser is dependent on the older adult for money, food or shelter.
Here are a few facts about elder abuse, courtesy of the Government of Canada.
* Financial abuse is the most commonly reported type of elder abuse.
* Most older people who experience abuse are able to make decisions for themselves.
* Abuse can happen to anyone, in any family or relationship. It can happen to people of all backgrounds, ages, religions, races, cultures and ethnic origins.
* Older adults may feel too ashamed or embarrassed to tell anyone they are being abused by someone they trust, may fear retaliation or punishment, may have concerns about having to move from their home or community and may also feel a sense of family loyalty.
Who to contact?
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1, but if it’s not an emergency there are a number resources you can reach out to for assistance:
* Seniors Abuse and Information Line is a place that older adults and those who care about them can call to talk to someone about situations where they feel they are being abused or mistreated, or to receive information about elder abuse prevention. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (excluding holidays) at 604-437-1940 in the Lower Mainland.
* VictimLink B.C., a confidential telephone service that’s available across B.C. and Yukon 24 hours a day, seven days a week, provides information and referrals to all victims of crime and crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence. You can contact VictimLink B.C. at: 1-800-563-0808 (tollfree); 604-836-6381 (text); [email protected] (email); or TTY (assistance for deaf and hearing impaired) at 604-875-0885 or toll-free at 7-1-1.
* Assisted Living Registrar: The registrar investigates complaints about the health and safety of assisted living residents, so if you believe someone is being abused or neglected in an assisted living facility, contact the Assisted Living Registrar tollfree at 1-866-714-3378.
