See no evil
The hidden tragedy of elder abuse: Between four and ten per cent of seniors experience some type of neglect or abuse, whether it is emotional, physical, sexual, or financial, according to Canadian researchers. And more often than not, when an elderly person is victimized, it's by someone they trust.
By Manisha Krishnan, North Shore News
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Respect your elders.
It's a lesson that most of us were taught at a young age, and it seems simple enough to understand: your parents take care of you, and you, in turn, are there to look after them later in life. It's not uncommon; around 95 per cent of Canadian seniors live at home, and 80 per cent receive care from friends and family.
The problem is, it's not always care that they receive.
Between four and ten per cent of seniors experience some type of neglect or abuse, whether it is emotional, physical, sexual, or financial, according to Canadian researchers. And more often than not, when an elderly person is victimized, it's by someone they trust. Because of this, the reality is many cases of elder abuse go unreported, due to fears of retaliation and the loss of relationships.
In Canada, 13.6 per cent of the population is aged 65 and over, and with a provincial average of 14.6 per cent, B.C. is considered one of the oldest regions. It's a fact to be celebrated, as people now have longer life expectancies than ever before, but it also means abuse and neglect are experienced by a growing segment of our population.
Many victims turn to the police. So many have gone to the Vancouver force, in fact, that the department established an elder-abuse unit last year. Talking to the officers on that team gives some insight into the nature -- and scale -- of the problem.
"The majority of what we're dealing with is spouses and children," said Detective Anna Grigoletto, a member of the unit. The team doesn't deal with stranger-crime because it wouldn't be able to handle the workload, she said.
© North Shore News 2008
Abridged
SOURCE: North Shore News
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An excellent articale. Please go to source.
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