The nightmare of elder abuse can take many subtle and insidious forms and can be extremely difficult to relate clearly to others. Unlike a nightmare, however, elder abuse is all too real and even more common.
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 18/01) - A two-day education seminar dealing with elder abuse got under way at the Baker Centre at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 16.
"It is an unpopular subject that is finally being recognized by the public," said Esther Braden, chairperson of the Elder Abuse Committee.
"Obviously something has to be done to intervene and prevent the disgraces that a number of our elders regularly face," she added.
Sponsored by the NWT Seniors' Society, with funding by the Department of Health and Social Services, the workshop's goal is to develop an action plan to attempt to eliminate abuse throughout the NWT.
The forms of elder abuse were broken down into four different categories -- financial or material, psychological or emotional, physical and neglect.
"Because signs of abuse can be so subtle, it is sometimes difficult for field workers to pinpoint cases of abuse," said Wayne Hill, retired Calgary police officer and seminar speaker.
"That is why it is vital to talk to the suspected victim alone. they will open up to you more readily in private, and you won't run the risk of having the abuser or anyone else answering questions for them."
Some signs of abuse to look for in suspected cases are injuries, fear, depression, reluctance to talk and avoiding eye contact, lost valuables, lack of basic human necessities, decline in health, and poor hygiene.
One of the most common elder abuse circumstances occurs when the senior's pension check arrives.
The caregiver, a relative, or a friend will physically abuse, badger and humiliate, threaten pain or abandonment, or simply steal and sometimes commit forgery to obtain the elder's pension money.
Seniors rate is on the rise
There are about 1,900 seniors living in the NWT, almost half of which live in the Yellowknife area. By the year 2020 the territorial rate will grow to over 7,000.
The number of reported cases of elder abuse in the NWT currently stands at about 10 per cent of the senior population.
"For every case of elder abuse reported, there are at least five cases that go unreported," said Hill.
Sadly it is almost always someone known to the victim who is the abuser.
This is one reason it is hard for an abused elder to come forward and ask for help.
Fear of retaliation or abandonment, fear of not being believed, embarrassment and humiliation, and out and out love for their abuser are just some of the reasons for unreported cases of abuse.
It was the ancient philosopher Cicero (106-143 BC), who said, "It is not old age that is at fault, but our attitude toward it."
