Elder hotline prompts flood of calls
By: Nelia Raposo
May 21, 2008 02:37 PM
Abused seniors can call a dedicated distress line and talk anonymously to another senior about their problems thanks to a partnership between two local social services agencies.
“There is no agency in Peel dealing specifically with elder abuse,” Paddy Ramsingh, the executive director of Family Services of Peel, said yesterday. “Seniors are a very proud, fiercely independent population but even they can be victims of abuse.”
The first initiative of its kind in this community, Peel Elder Abuse Support Program’s hotline is operated by Distress Centre Peel volunteers who can refer callers to free counselling services provided by Family Services Peel.
In its first few months, about 40 people have accessed the service and most are calling about financial abuse, Ramsingh said, adding that publicizing the service has been a challenge.
The hotline telephone number is 905-278-3141 .
It operates from noon to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
The most common form of senior abuse is financial where an adult child will use power of attorney to suit their needs rather than the parent’s, Gerger explains. Other forms of abuse can range from neglect to physical violence. They received a call where a senior was being deprived of food, Gerger said.
SOURCE: MississaugaNews
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