By Ethan Ready

Elder Abuse Awareness

Advocacy groups mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Jun 15, 2020 | 4:24 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Inside the parking lot of the Exhibition Park, a convoy of cars gathered as Monday marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Due to COVID19, the PG Community Response Network had to change their usual way of marking the day, opting for the pandemic fad of a parade.

“It’s a very unique problem because elder abuse is very specific in that it is the loved ones of this person that is actually doing the abuse. It’s not about stranger danger,” explains Shelly Lebreton, Coordinator with the Prince George Community Response Network. “We have a unique set of circumstances to work within. The very people you’d expect to report the issue are sometimes the ones doing the abusing.”

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was developed and launched on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, which encompasses all of the forms of abuse, such as physical, emotional, financial, and even sexual abuse towards seniors. It’s an unfortunate reality that many people are uncomfortable talking about says LeBreton, but events such as this give her hope.

“For all of the programs, all of the volunteers, it gives me hope and it gives me encouragement that we’re going to be able to one day put in enough supports that seniors are not going to be one of the most targeted groups. Predators have a purpose and they know who to go after. We see it all the time with the telephone scams with the CRA stuff. Seniors are so lonely and so desperate, they want to talk to someone on the other end.”

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According to Regional Mentor Tim Rowe, statistical figures predict that 10 per cent of seniors in post population groups, including Prince George, endure some form of abuse. Despite this, he says there are several resources here locally one can reach out to.

“This doesn’t only apply to people who are being abused, but people who may think that abuse is taking place,” explained Tim Rowe, Regional Mentor for the Community Response Network. “Northern Health is one of the organizations that when an abuse is reported to a health authority, whether it’s Northern Health or any of the other four health authorities, then they have an obligation to launch an investigation into that situation.”

The Prince George Council of Seniors is also a local organization one who may be suffering abuse, or someone who suspects abuse can reach out to.

Depending on the severity, the RCMP can also be contacted.