TORONTO, ONTARIO, JUNE 15, 2010—The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Seniors), today pledged the Government’s support in the fight against elder abuse at the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day conference in Toronto.
“The Government of Canada is committed to helping provide Canadians with the knowledge and resources needed to identify and mobilize our society against elder abuse,” said Minister of State Ablonczy.
It is estimated that between 4 and 10 per cent of Canadian seniors experience some kind of abuse. Mistreatment can take a variety of forms, including financial, physical or psychological abuse, as well as neglect.
Coinciding with the fifth annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Minister of State Ablonczy announced funding of almost $1 million for six Federal Elder Abuse Initiative projects. These projects will help national organizations to develop and disseminate elder abuse awareness materials for frontline workers, giving them the tools needed to identify and respond to elder abuse.
“Any form of abuse is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. We need to create an environment where people will take action against this serious issue,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “We need to give seniors and other Canadians the information they need to raise awareness, stand up and take action. More importantly, we need to empower seniors to speak up individually and collectively.”
Many seniors do not report abuse because they feel isolated and are afraid to speak out. As a result, this problem remains largely hidden. In a recent survey, 96 per cent of Canadians felt that most abuse experienced by older adults is hidden or goes undetected.
In 2009, the Government of Canada launched a national elder abuse awareness advertising campaign called Elder Abuse – It’s Time to Face the Reality. The awareness campaign, scheduled to run again in October, includes television, print and Web components aimed at raising awareness of elder abuse.
For more information on the Government of Canada’s commitments regarding seniors, including elder abuse awareness initiatives, visit www.seniors.gc.ca.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Alayne Crawford
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of Minister of State Ablonczy
613-960-8717
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Budget 2008 committed $13 million over three years to help seniors and others recognize the signs and symptoms of elder abuse, and to provide information on available support. As part of this commitment, the Government of Canada, through the Federal Elder Abuse Initiative, launched a national elder abuse awareness advertising campaign in 2009, called Elder Abuse – It’s Time to Face the Reality. The awareness campaign included television, print and Web components aimed at encouraging Canadians to take action towards preventing elder abuse.
A call for proposals under the Federal Elder Abuse Initiative was also open for six weeks in the summer of 2009. The call invited professional associations to apply for funding to adapt, customize and disseminate elder abuse materials for use throughout their organizations.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was first declared by the World Health Organization and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse to “reflect the need for people to understand what abuse and neglect of older adults is and how it can be prevented.”
The first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City in 2006.
Elder Abuse Defined
The World Health Organization defines elder abuse as “a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.” Abuse can be physical, financial, psychological or sexual. Neglect may also be considered abuse.
For more information on the Government of Canada’s elder abuse initiatives, visit www.seniors.gc.ca or call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). People using a teletypewriter device (TTY), can call 1-800-926-9105.
