By Julia Textor
Sun Media
Tuesday August 12, 2008
Abuse can happen to people of all ages, genders and even to animals. But, did you know that a survey done by Statistics Canada in the late 90s found that seven per cent of all older people experienced elder abuse?
Elder abuse is defined as any action or lack of action that is harmful to the health or well being of an older adult. This can include physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse as well as neglect and the misuse of an older person’s medication and prescriptions.
Potential abusers can often be close family members such as adult children, grandchildren, a spouse and extended family.
Shame, embarrassment and fear instilled in victims of elder abuse may keep them from breaking free of their situation.
But there is help out there.
The Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton’s (SAGE) Safe House is a living facility for seniors who are being abused to escape to.
“They can stay with us for 60 days and we provide them with all of their needs from food to helping them in whatever area they need,” said Bernice Sewell, SAGE’s director of operations.
The SAGE Safe House is the only one of its kind in Canada, providing seven individual apartment-style units to allow privacy and comfort.
Not only are the physical needs of the individuals met, but registered social workers also give support and offer solutions to each person in each unique situation.
“We assist them in looking at all aspects of their life that the abuse has touched,” Sewell said.
If an older person thinks they might be in an abusive situation, he or she is encouraged to call the SAGE Safe House where an intake officer will assess the situation and determine if it is appropriate for that person to stay in the residence.
The Seniors’ Abuse Help Line is also available 24 hours a day to provide support over the phone.
“If a senior was to call (the help line) even just to get support, (the counselors) would tell them about the safe house,” Sewell said.
Potential residents are encouraged to visit the safe house before making a decision to get a feel for what it is like.
“They’ll sometimes think about it for a little while before they come in,” she said. “It is a difficult decision to make.”
“When they first come to stay they may be a little frightened, but once they understand that the support is there for them and they get to live in their own really nice apartment for a while, it gets better.”
Once a resident is settled in, counseling and support sessions begin and resolutions to the abusive situation are searched out.
“They can make whatever decisions they choose and we certainly don’t try to sway them at all,” Sewell said.
“We give them information, we help them learn and we give them support.”
The average length of stay in 2007 was about 40 days, but if the issues cannot be faced within 60 days, the stay can be extended.
Sewell added about 88 per cent of seniors who have gone through the Safe House program have gone on to live safer lives.
The SAGE Safe House program has been running for the past eight years.
If you are living in an abusive situation or if you know someone who might be, call the Seniors’ Abuse Help Line at 780-454-8888 or the SAGE Safe House at 780-702-1520 for support and information.
SOURCE: Fort Saskatchewan Record
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