Bringing attention to the issue of elder abuse
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was recognized globally on June 15. The purpose of WEAAD is to encourage communities to recognize the problem of older adult abuse and for countries to create policies that foster respect for older adults. It is a day that attempts to bring global attention to the problem of financial, emotional, physical and spiritual abuse of older adults. It also seeks to understand the unique challenges of our aging population.
In Canada it is estimated that 10 per cent of seniors are affected by abuse. However, as abuse is often not reported the numbers could be higher.
Alberta’s population is quickly aging. For the first time in Canadian history the number of those 65-plus is greater than the 0-to-14-yearold category. It is also projected that in Alberta by 2032 the population of seniors is expected to reach one million. This means one in five Albertans will be over the age of 65.
In Medicine Hat on June 15 a pancake breakfast was held at the POST to kick off World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, plus luncheons at the Miywasin Friendship Centre and the Strathcona Seniors Centre. All locations were decorated with purple items, the colour of abuse awareness. Resources created for June 15 by the local Coordinated Community Response Committee (CCR) were distributed within the city.
The CCR committee is comprised of key organizations that provide a service to seniors and are willing to work together to achieve common goals related to addressing elder abuse. This is a relatively new committee serving Medicine Hat, Redcliff, Dunmore, Irvine, Walsh, Oyen and Bow Island. This community development project is funded through a one-year grant from the Alberta Ministry of Seniors and Housing. CCR committees can be found across Alberta including Brooks and Lethbridge.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) identified the need for this project in Medicine Hat and area and were the successful applicants. In February 2018 Colleen Lewis was hired as the elder abuse community collaborator. Her office is in the CMHA main office on Dunmore Road and may be reached by email clewis@cmha-aser.ca . Colleen is in the process of building the CCR committee and together they are working through the steps to build a Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse for Medicine Hat and area. The CCR committee mission statement is “To work collaboratively to address elder abuse.”
For more information on elder abuse visit: www.albertaelderabuse.ca (video)
Suspect Abuse or Neglect? Make the call 1.855.4 HELPAB (4435722)
Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. or call the Family Violence Information Line 3101818 or for help locally call the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society 403-529-1097
Submitted by Colleen Lewis