March 9, 2009
The program, funded by The United Way of Peel, recently celebrated its first full year of service. The only program of its kind in Peel, it's serving a steadily increasing number of victims.
Tom Triantafilliou, director of resource development with Family Services of Peel, said statistics compiled by the agency led to the formation of the program to help seniors who have somehow become "devalued, and end up the victims of abuse."
He worries that as the local community ages (by 2018 Peel will have the second highest rate of people becoming seniors in the province), the abuse figures will escalate too. In many cases, the victims don't even realize they are being abused.
Peel Elder Abuse Support Program helps these abused seniors by linking them to resources and encouraging them to be involved in the community.
Leeanne Chowen, volunteer service coordinator with Distress Centre Peel, said abused seniors can call 905-278-3141 to speak to a volunteer. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.
Calls rose from four last year in its first month of operation to 11 in January, as word of mouth about the program increased, coupled with a poor economy that makes seniors more prone to becoming victims. In total, they have fielded about 165 calls.
Chowen's volunteers hear all kinds of horror stories from seniors, from physical abuse, to theft of their money by the holder of their power of attorney – often a relative – to theft of sentimental items. The seniors, in most cases, are living in their own homes, with friends, family or spouse, providing care.
The cases are referred to Kevin Leet, Family Services of Peel's case management program facilitator. He meets with the victims, providing assistance, reassurance and help to get them out of the abusive situation. These meetings take place wherever the senior prefers, so their abusers don't find out. Sometimes Leet finds himself meeting outside of a grocery store or at a corner coffee shop.
"Most of the cases are power of attorney violations – an adult child exploiting his or her parents," he said.
"Abuse is a very difficult thing for a 70-year-old to grasp. It's a psychological blow. They feel shame and embarrassment. Often, that's why they keep quiet about the abuse."
Leet said the last year has revealed a shocking litany of abuse. Some seniors have lost their entire life savings, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars. Others have been locked in bedrooms, while their caregiver leaves the house to go to work or run errands. One senior suffered a skull fracture from abuse she endured, he noted.
SOURCE: Mississauga,ON,Canada
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