Over 5,000 Halton seniors at risk of abuse
By Hiba Kesebi, Special to the Champion
News
Aug 13, 2008
Carol Macdonald was psychologically abused by her husband. She was put down, humiliated and underestimated.
She contemplated suicide many times, but never knew that her husband's mind games were, indeed, a form of abuse until a woman from a women's shelter took her by the arms and broke the news to her.
"She told me that I'm facing the reality of what abuse is," said Macdonald.
"I should leave, and support is available. I didn't know that I was being abused. It's easier to live in denial."
Macdonald admits that it took her a long time to make her exit, yet she's thankful for finally making it.
"The person I am now is not the person I was 15 years ago," she said. "I was pathetic, sad, overwhelmed, confused."
Today, Macdonald's smile never leaves her face.
She's got humour and energy, ambitions and goals, independence and peace of mind.
That change was radiant during the recent launch of Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention and Services (SAVIS) of Halton's new Seniors Supporting Seniors Peer Mentoring Project.
The initiative aims to reach out to 200 senior women in Halton by providing them with knowledge about how to recognize abuse and where to get support in the community.
Macdonald is the co-ordinator of the Seniors Supporting Seniors Peer Mentoring Project.
The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse states that those who assist abused older adults believe that the rate of abuse is close to 10 per cent.
Therefore, with about 55,000 seniors living in Halton as of 2006, it's possible that as many as 5,500 seniors are, or are at risk of, being abused.
"Emotional abuse is an extremely insidious form of abuse that is harder to recognize and deal with because it is not recognized in the court system, it isn't a criminal offence but it makes a woman feel like she is nothing," said Macdonald.
According to Macdonald, most assaults on seniors are committed by the people they know and love best.
If you're a senior who would like to help other seniors, contact Macdonald at (905) 825-3622 or seniors@savisofhalton.org.
Abridged
SOURCE: Milton Canadian Champion
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