Elder Abuse Awareness
June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario will join communities locally and across the world to heighten awareness of elder abuse. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) focuses our attention on the need for all of us to take responsibility in preventing elder abuse.
Elder abuse or elder mistreatment is a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses a broad range of behaviors, events, and circumstances. Unlike random acts of violence, elder abuse does not always occur as an isolated incident; rather it is recurrent in up to 80% of cases.
For more information on the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day visit HERE
Everyone has the Right to be Safe
No one should experience abuse. “It’s not right!” As neighbours, friends and family members, you can help. You don’t have to “fix” the problem. Caring about the people around you and paying attention when there are signs of trouble are important steps. Small actions can make a big difference.
What We All Need to Know about Abuse
- “Ageism” is discrimination against older adults because of their age. Ageism is a factor in abuse of older adults.
- Everyone has the right to live without fear. Everyone has the right to have control over their life.
- If someone uses their influence or ability to limit or control the rights and freedoms of an older adult, it is abuse. The abuse is never the older adult’s fault.
- Most older adults who experience abuse are healthy and capable of making their own decisions.
- Many types of abuse are against the law; all abuse is unacceptable.
- Older people affected by abuse are often isolated.
- You cannot control the abusive person’s behaviour. It is not your responsibility to “make” the abuse stop, but you can help older adults find support.
What You Can Do When You Suspect Abuse of an Older Adult
Neighbours, friends and family members are often aware of the signs of abuse in an older adult’s life, but they may not know what to do about it. Here are three things that everyone can do to make a difference:
- SEE it! “It’s not right!” Recognize the warning signs of abuse
- NAME it! “That looks/sounds like abuse.” Talk to the older adult or someone you trust about your concerns—overcome your hesitation to help.
- CHECK it! “Is it abuse? What can I do to help?” Ask questions, check with an expert on abuse about what to do next, check for danger—suggest safety planning.
What Do I Need to Learn? What Should I Say?
SEE it! “It’s not right!”
Learn about abuse so that you can recognize the different warning signs. Abuse can be physical, but it can also be psychological, sexual, spiritual, financial, or neglect. The warning signs are not always obvious. All forms of abuse cause harm. Abuse is never acceptable
It is easy to ignore warning signs and to tell yourself that you must be mistaken or that it’s “not that bad” because it’s “only” one warning sign. Trust your instincts when something makes you feel uncomfortable.
A warning sign is like seeing the tip of an iceberg; there is likely much more going on below the surface. When you see a warning sign, say to yourself, “It’s Not Right!” This will help you move to the next step.
NAME it! “I am worried about you.”
Overcome your hesitation to help. If it is safe, talk to the person who you think is being abused – wait for a time when you are alone and not likely to be interrupted. Approach the person with care and concern: “I heard your daughter yelling at you again and I am worried about you.”
Describe just the facts of what you witness. For example:
Do say: “I saw him take money from your wallet.”
Don’t use judgmental language. “I saw him stealing money from your wallet.”
Do say: “I heard your daughter say she didn’t want to take you to the doctor.”
Don’t use judgmental language or jump to conclusions. “Your daughter is being abusive for not taking you to the doctor.”
Find support for yourself. Talk to someone you trust about what to do next or consult a professional.
CHECK it! “What can I do to help?”
- Check for immediate danger. If you think the situation is dangerous, call 911.
- If you have questions and want to speak to police, ask to speak to an officer who has been trained in domestic or family violence.
- If you see a warning sign, ask questions; don’t assume you know what is happening. For example:
“I saw him take money from your wallet…Did you say it was ok?”
“I heard your daughter say she didn’t want to take you to the doctor…
Is there anything I can do? Do you still want to go?”
Good questions you can ask older adults:
– Do you feel safe?
– Is anyone in your life hurting you or making you feel uncomfortable?
– What do you want to do? How can I help?
Be supportive and listen. Remember that it may be difficult for them to talk at first. Let them know that you are available to listen whenever they want. Often what older adults need most is someone who will listen.
Acknowledge that they are in a very difficult situation. Let your friend or family member know that whatever is happening is not their fault. Reassure them that they are not alone and that there is help and support available.
Encourage them to talk to someone who can provide help and guidance. Find a local organization that provides counseling or support groups (i.e. seniors’ organization, family violence service, local health centres). Offer to go with them to talk to family and friends. If they have to go to the police, court or a lawyer, offer to go along for moral support.
Remember that you cannot “rescue” them. Although it is difficult to see someone you care about being mistreated, that person has the right to decide about the next steps. It’s important for you to support and help the older adult find a way to safety and peace.
If you are concerned that an older adult is not able to make informed decisions, do not try to make decisions for the person. Consult with a local health centre that serves seniors and ask how you can best be supportive
For more suggestions and to learn what to do when support is NOT wanted, follow this LINK for the full PDF of this article.
Visit the Government of Canada’s Website to find services and support and search for “Elder Abuse” or call 1-800-622-6232.
We Are Here For You
Promyse Home Care staff supports protecting our senior loved ones from abuse of any kind. If you need someone to talk to or to get help, please reach out to our nurse case managers or any of our compassionate staff.
Our mission is to improve the quality of life of seniors in our community.
