Victims of elder abuse afraid to come forward
By Lisa Rutledge, Times Staff

News
Jun 02, 2009

The work to stop child abuse has come a long way in the social mindset, but when it comes to elder abuse, society has a long way to go.

“Elder abuse is where child abuse was 30 years ago,” said Liz Nieson, elder abuse resource consultant with the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre.

Working in one of the only prevention programs in Canada dedicated to tackling elder abuse –whether it’s physical, neglect or even financial abuse –Nieson knows all too well how prevalent the problem is.

Every year in Canada, there are an estimated 183,000 to 456,000 seniors experiencing some kind of abuse. The scary part, she added, is that 80 per cent of cases go unreported and undetected.

“We only see the tip of the iceberg.”

Nieson made the comments while addressing a full house of seniors who attended Friday’s seniors’ education day, hosted at the Cambridge Newfoundland Club by Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk.

In addition to helping victims of abuse know their rights and learn what resources are available to them, Nieson’s goal is to encourage victims to find the courage and reach out for help. So many suffer physically, mentally or financially in silence because they’re too proud or embarrassed to ask for help, she maintains.

“There are so many reasons victims don’t come forward.”

Sometimes, they’re afraid to involve police or the legal system because it can be overwhelming, noted Nieson. However, she assures all investigations are victim-directed, allowing seniors to choose how they want to pursue complaints. If a victim chooses not to press charges, there are other options, she said.

Also speaking at the seniors’ education forum was Waterloo Regional Police Det. Dave Haughey, who works with Nieson on the elder abuse resource team. And like Nieson, he encouraged victims to ask for help.

“You are not alone if you are being abused,” he said.

Many seniors are robbed of their money, assets and power over decisions by being pressured and tricked, often by their own family members, he explained.

Offering tips to prevent financial abuse, Haughey said seniors should keep money matters a carefully guarded secret and never share their banking card personal identification numbers, which provide access to their finances.

Nieson and Haughey both cautioned the group about signing power of attorney over to someone. Consider it carefully, they stated. Manipulation of power of attorney rights has become such an issue that theft by power of attorney is now part of the Criminal Code of Canada, noted Haughey.

Seniors’ assets such as property could be a target for an unscrupulous person fallen on hard times as a result of the struggling economy, added Nieson.

She invited seniors to attend a Celebrating Seniors event on June 15 that will include a theatre drama focusing on how community groups can work together to stop elder abuse. The event will be held at the Kitchener Public Library from 5:15 to 8 p. m.