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SAIF brings flowers to seniors for Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Time to check on parents, grandparents, neighbours
1606 SAIF CC
The purpose of World Elder Abuse Day is to raise awareness and understand the effects abuse has on seniors.  

As a United Nations initiative, Tuesday was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. To bring greater visibility to the discrimination and stigmatization seniors face, Mayor Cathy Heron proclaimed June 7 to 13 Seniors’ Week. 

The international theme this year is "Grow the Conversation ... Don’t Let Ageism Stop the Conversation." The purpose of the day is to raise awareness and understand the effects abuse has on seniors.  

Areni Kelleppan, executive director of Stop Abuse in Families (SAIF), spent Tuesday spreading kindness at Red Willow Place and two long-term care homes – Chateau Mission and River Ridge. 

“We’re going to be putting 500 flowers around seniors' homes so they can receive positive messages and know someone cares. We’re connecting with them in a way we haven’t done before,” said Kelleppan.   

In 2020, SAIF received 180 elder-abuse calls and dealt with 92 cases. The most common abuses were verbal, mental, emotional, psychological, physical, and financial abuse. Despite the struggle of dealing with abuse, Kelleppan noted seniors rarely call for help. 

“It will often be a concerned neighbour, friend, or family member. Most times callers feel seniors are being neglected, uncared for, and vulnerable to abuse by others. Seniors don’t call. They’re afraid. They put up with abuse or threats.” 

Cases of abuse occur when a senior loses his or her independence and is isolated, shifting the caregiver to a position of control. If a caregiver withholds services such as medical appointments, a grocery run, or threatens to take away access to grandchildren, Kelleppan deems it abuse. 

The pandemic heightened abuse in some cases where family members – children and grandchildren – moved in with seniors and took over financial control. 

“Often they feel powerless. They want to call the police, but they don’t want a loved one to be arrested. They are fearful, but don’t know what to do because someone has invaded their home.” 

Again, there are multiple types of financial abuse underlined with intimidation, threats, and coercion.  

“Stealing property, taking over property, forcing a senior to give up their pin number, or signing blank cheques are part of it. They go hand-in-hand with psychological abuse.” 

Kelleppan suggests individuals note changes in patterns of behaviour. Signs of elder abuse include fear, anxiety, depression, unexplained injuries, poor nutrition, unwelcome hygiene, and improper use of medication. Additionally, a sudden drop in cash flow or quick changes to legal documents are other indicators. 

“Once we reach out, seniors are so relieved someone reached out to them. They are grateful someone called and cared.” 

SAIF works with a collaborative committee of different agencies to provide the best supports. Several of the agencies involved are the RCMP, who perform wellness checks, Community Village, Covenant Health, Victim Services, and Home Care. 

“It’s not about swooping in. It’s about providing wrap-around services to help the senior.” 

Unlike child welfare legislation, no comparable legislation exists to protect elders unless it falls under the Criminal Code for domestic violence. 

“This is not what they would want for the end of their life. It’s complex and requires a delicate hand. It’s not something that can be handled in the courts. We are handling it in the community with organizations in the community to provide protection for vulnerable seniors.” 

SAIF ran several educational seminars throughout June. Two on Tuesday included Legal Information for Senior Albertans; and Aging with Rights: Ending Elder Abuse in Canada. The third, Securing Your Money: Avoiding Common Scams, Frauds, and Cons, is set for June 30 at 6 p.m. For information on seminars or to report abuse, call 780-460-2195 ext. 306. 

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