Jun 16, 2008 14:15
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
(Marketwire - June 16, 2008) - The Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Secretary of State (Seniors) announced plans to launch a national awareness campaign on elder abuse in a keynote speech at a conference marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2008.
"Seniors from all walks of life are vulnerable to elder abuse, and it's happening in communities across Canada. We want everyone to know that it cannot and will not be tolerated and that help is available," said Minister LeBreton. "A substantial portion of the $13 million allocated over three years to elder abuse in Budget 2008 will support an awareness campaign planned for launch on October 1st, the International Day of Older Persons."
In addition to an advertising campaign, the Government of Canada will develop information tools to help frontline professionals in the health, financial and justice fields deal with incidents of elder abuse.
Canadian research indicates that between four and ten percent of older adults experience some kind of abuse or neglect. According to recent Government of Canada public opinion research on elder abuse, 96 percent of Canadians think most of the abuse experienced by older adults is hidden or goes undetected. And, thinking about seniors they know personally, 22 percent of Canadians say a senior they know might be experiencing some form of abuse. Sixty-seven percent of Canadians think older women are more likely to be abused than older men.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference, June 16-17, 2008
This year, INPEA, in conjunction with the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, has organized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The objective of the WEAAD conference is to raise national and international awareness of elder abuse, provide a forum to showcase Canadian initiatives to combat elder abuse, discuss innovations and best practices from around the world and exchange information.
The Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Secretary of State (Seniors), will address conference participants on June 16 and outline the steps the Government of Canada is taking to combat elder abuse. On June 18-19, Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) will host an Expert Roundtable Forum on Elder Abuse. In addition, HRSDC has partnered with the Province of Ontario to conduct a federal/provincial/territorial-sponsored forum on the financial abuse of older people (June 19-20).
Advertising campaign announced to create awareness of elder abuse
For more information, please contact
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Media Relations Office 819-994-5559
or
Office of the Secretary of State (Seniors)
James Maunder 613-943-0756
Abridged
SOURCE: MarketWire
----------------------------------------------------
More Recent Posts from Spotlight on Elder Abuse
No comments:
Post a Comment