The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is spreading awareness and sharing resources in support of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which took place on Monday, June 15, 2020.
Elder abuse is a serious and growing problem. It is estimated that six to 10 per cent of seniors aged 65 and over residing in Ontario are abused. Abuse can occur anywhere, including in your own home, home of the caregiver, long-term care homes, retirement homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals.
Elder abuse refers to the violence, mistreatment or neglect that older adults may experience at the hands of their spouses, children, other family members, caregivers, service providers or other individuals in positions of power or trust.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day focuses on raising awareness of elder abuse to ensure we can all grow old feeling safe, valued and respected. This year’s campaign encourages planting a tree or flower to honour those who are affected by elder abuse using the hashtags #UprootElderAbuse and #WEAAD2020.
A video and additional content will be shared throughout the day on OPP Central Region’s social media on Facebook @OPPCentralRegion and Twitter @OPP_CR.
June is also Seniors’ Month in Ontario and resources will be shared all month to provide our vulnerable aging population with additional information and local resources to better protect themselves from becoming victims of crime.
Together, we can put an end to the physical, psychological, emotional, sexual and financial abuse of elders. The following are resources that may provide assistance to aging residents within our communities:
• 211Ontario can help you navigate through a network of social services quickly and easily. Visit 211ontario.ca or call 2-1-1.
• Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, visit http://www.eapon.ca/ or call the Seniors Safety Line at 1-866-299-1011.
• Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, visit https://cnpea.ca/en/.
If you or someone you know has been abused or is experiencing abuse, you are not alone. Please call the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or in the case of an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
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It is no secret that 80% of pandemic deaths occur in nursing homes; usually private, not public. As soon as the need for a profit margin is introduced; standards of care deteriorate. Just look at all the finger-pointing in Ontario, where the inspection personnel was accused of not entering nursing homes. This was patently bogus; as what they were being asked to do was to go between several homes in the course of a day (an obviously unsafe practice).