With Elder Abuse Awareness Day having just passed, now is an excellent time to consider the ways in which you, as a health practitioner, can help to prevent mistreatment of your older patients.
1 in 5 Canadians believe they know a senior who is a victim of elder abuse, whether it be financial, psychological or physical. However, victims often suffer in silence as they don’t have the resources to get proper help.
To help resolve this issue, CIHR-funded researchers Dr. Janice Du Mont from the Women’s College Research Institute at Women’s College Hospital and Sheila Macdonald of the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres are designing the first hospital-based elder abuse service. By doing so, they hope to better protect the health and safety of Canada’s growing senior population.
“Elder abuse is a pervasive issue that will only continue to grow as our population ages,” says Du Mont. “It is estimated that four to seven per cent of Canadian older adults experience some form of serious elder abuse or maltreatment. Yet, we don’t have a coordinated and integrated strategy to address the complex functional, social, forensic and medical needs of these victims.”
“Our research addresses a high priority area in the field of aging and a significant gap in health research,” she continues. “It could improve the quality of life of abused older adults, prevent revictimization, and shape health services policy and practice.”
If you suspect that one of your patients may be experiencing elder abuse, head to www.seniors.gc.ca to get them the help they need.
