Financial Institution Launches Strategy Aimed at Stopping Elder Abuse (CANADA)

Financial institution launches strategy aimed at stopping elder abuse

Apr. 05 2011

By Laura Tupper, ctvedmonton.ca

An Alberta bank is joining police in Edmonton and Calgary in trying to prevent the financial abuse of seniors in this province.

ATB Financial has launched a training program for staff in efforts to help employees recognize and stop people from taking advantage of elderly residents.

"There is no industry-wide curriculum or set of standards for elder abuse training in Canada," said Karen Comeau, ATB's vice-president of sales and operations. "We decided the time was right to join law enforcement and social agency partners in developing a training program for our people. We're proud to be the first financial institution in Alberta to do that."

The financial abuse of seniors can include the misuse of joint bank accounts, forging signatures on pension cheques or legal documents, misusing a power of attorney or making a change to a senior's will.

Officials with Edmonton's Elder Abuse Intervention Team estimate that between four and 10 per cent of seniors will experience some form of abuse.

"By helping ATB Financial develop training programs for their associates, we know this will help in prevention and intervention of financial abuse situations," said Pat Power, a social worker with the intervention team.

"I see it every day. It's sad to see our seniors being taken advantage of in this manner," said EPS Const. Jared Buhler. "Thanks to the training we helped develop, ATB associates are better able to recognize the warning signs of elder abuse."

SOURCE:    Edmonton,ctv,ca
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