By Spencer Sterritt

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day a chance to talk about neglect of seniors

Jun 15, 2017 | 1:20 AM

NANAIMO — Thursday is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, bringing to light the constant scams and mistreatment seniors face.

Local seniors advocate Kim Slater, chair of the Vancouver Island Association of Family Councils, said supporters need to do more than just “pay lip service” on the day by considering elder abuse as something larger than Canada Revenue Agency scams.

In Parksville and Qualicum Beach, seniors now outnumber children and soon the same will be true across all of Vancouver Island, according to the latest 2016 census data.

“We need to start thinking more broadly because some of the worst, most unhappy stories I see are the neglect which happens because of loneliness and isolation,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Slater said everything from Cities not taking transit issues for the elderly into consideration, to how nurses in residential care homes shift around between various departments, can be considered neglect since it can leave them feeling withdrawn or unwelcome.

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Because of the isolation, Slater said unfortunate situations, such as an elderly man losing $1,500, will become more common.

“There are terrible things that go bump in the night. What that requires is family, friends and neighbours staying connected with seniors and watching over them,” Slater said. “It takes a community to raise a child…well the same thing is becoming true of seniors.”

Tiah Workman, a notary public in Nanaimo, said elder abuse isn’t only scams over the phone or internet. Relatives can also be behind elder abuse.

“There may be pressure put on a grandparents to help with a bill, or to make an unauthorized withdrawal from seniors’ account. Sometimes they forge signatures on documents and the seniors are really afraid to rock the boat, so they don’t say anything.”

Workman said it’s crucial seniors not let their concerns be unheard and urged them to lay out how they wanted their affairs to be handled through power of attorney.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit