YouTube bullies shock the world
Jun 28, 2012
By Marla Shook
EMC Editorial - The world was shocked last week when a video depicting the bullying of a 69 year-old bus monitor went viral on YouTube. (the Video)
According to mass media reports, the widow of 17 years and grandmother of eight had worked as a bus driver in Greece, New York and for the past three years has been a bus monitor. Karen Klein, throughout the 10 minute video, was "verbally berated" by four children.
Since then public support has been overflowing, after a campaign was started to raise funds so she could go on her dream vacation. Reports say now, more than $600,000 has been raised.
While it might be a bit of a diversion in topic, when I heard about this I recalled information given out during a recent provincial Crime Stoppers convention in Peterborough, on elder abuse.
The 30-page pamphlet describes a crime it calls, "hidden", can come in many forms including abuse in the physical sense, sexual, financial, mental and neglect. According to the material, compiled by the Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), "elder abuse is violent or abusive harm done to an older person. Elder abuse is often a crime." Frequently it's caused by a family member, friend, someone the senior might rely on for basic needs, or staff in group residential setting.
"Victims of elder abuse often know and trust their abuser," it reads.
"Some victims of elder abuse depend on the people who hurt them, sometimes for food, shelter, personal care, companionship or transportation."
Sometimes abuse presents itself through several symptoms including depression, unexplained injuries, dehydration, poor hygiene or even over-sedation. "Seldom reported" because victims are usually afraid of what their abuser will do to them if they report the crime, they are under control of the abuser and depend on them for various things, they are afraid they will be put into a care home, or institution and of course there are many other reasons.
Victims need safety, shelter and access to financial resources as well as emotional support and information about the law. There are many community resources available for victims, including the police, women's shelters and transition homes, emergency beds in long term care homes, Community Care Access Centres and more. As well, there are many agencies, which can aid in finding help and information, including the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, (416)-916-6728 and www.onpea.org.
SOURCE: EMC ALMONTE/CARLETON PLACE
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