Community focuses on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 14, 2010
Elder Abuse Awareness Day is coming up on June 15. Now in its fifth year in Revelstoke, it originally started in Australia in 1997 to prevent abuse towards elderly people. The abuse is considered “invisible,” which puts elderly people in harsh situations, and people around them have a hard time noticing the abuse. The awareness day was established in order to prevent abuse and educate people to recognize and respect elderly people.
British Columbia has been supportive towards elderly people who are in need of such help. B.C. is the only province that has a specialized prevention unit within the legislation. There are many local units that can help elderly people throughout communities across B.C.
The Revelstoke Community Response Network (RCRN) has been educating and helping people since 2004. They are organized by 60 local citizens working towards the prevention of abuse.They don’t get involved in the actual abuse cases, but they provide prevention and awareness as their main focus.
“It’s good to have a day to raise awareness,” says Mengia Nicholson, co-ordinator at RCRN. “And educating people is very important.”
Abuse towards elderly people includes a variety of things. It can be withholding mail, identity theft, physical and mental abuse, neglect, self-neglect, financial abuse, scams, as well as sexual abuse. Nicholson believes that scam mail has been sent around Revelstoke, and some people may have been affected by it.
“We are aware of the issues in regards to the scam, and we are told that scams have occurred in Revelstoke,” Nicholson said.
The RCRN has been helping out elderly people in the community for six years, providing awareness and information in regards to elderly abuse. The RCRN isn’t the only group that helps elderly people, however.
“There are many resources out there,” says Nicholson. If any elderly people need help, they can receive information, counselling and support by calling supporting groups such as B.C. Centre for Elderly Advocacy and Support and People In Need. All the information and telephone numbers can be found in a brochure provided by the RCRN. The brouchure can be found at various places throughout Revelstoke such as the Greyhound bus depot and the Recreation Centre.
Revelstokians can also support elderly people within the community. If citizens notice any form of abuse towards an elderly person, they can call Community Living BC, or call 911 for an immediate emergency response. Confidentiality is critical in these kinds of issues.
As a part of raising awareness towards elderly abuse, the RCRN is going to give a public presentation on Wednesday, June 16 at the Seniors’ Centre starting at 3 p.m. The presentation will focus on issues such as safety and resources for elderly people.
“The community can save elderly people by being aware and stepping in to solve the problem,” says Nicholson. “Prevention is needed.”
SOURCE: BC LOCAL NEWS
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