Elder Abuse Perceptions and Prevention II

(Advance July 3, 2005)

In Part I the results of a survey conducted by the Huntsville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police were reported.  Respondents to the survey were asked if they thought domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, drugs in schools and youth gangs were a problem in their community.  In each of these categories, there was a significant increase in the number of people who said yes compared with the results of a similar survey in 2002.  In particular, 24% of survey respondents thought elder abuse was a problem.  However, the incidence of overall violent crime has in fact decreased.

Research has shown that between 4 and 10% of seniors will be victims of some form of elder abuse.   You are the most important person when it comes to preventing abuse.  It is important to keep active and stay in contact with a network of friends, community groups and family members.  Last week, ideas to help prevent financial abuse, the most common type of abuse, were given.  Here are some other suggestions:

·                      Plan for your own future when you are well, healthy and still independent.

·                      Don’t become dependent on one person for your social life and care.

·                      Seek outside contacts.  Develop friends of all ages.  Ask friends to visit you often.

·                      Stay active in your community as long as you can.  Maintain and add to your network
           of friends and acquaintances.

·                      Develop a buddy system with a friend outside the home.  Plan at least weekly contact
            and talk openly with this person.

·                      Work on improving relationships with family and friends.

·                      Concerns about memory need to be evaluated for causes.  If there is some memory
            loss, arrangements need to be made for your future wishes and care as soon as
            possible.

·                      Don’t allow adult children, especially if they have a drug, alcohol, or mental health
            problem, to return home without carefully considering the situation and seeking advice
            from others, such as family members, counsellors, doctor or other professional.

·                      Don’t be too proud to ask for and accept help when you need it.  This assistance may
            allow you to stay in your own home.

·                      Be aware of available community and in-home services, such as Meals on Wheels,
            Day Away Program, Community Care Access Centre, senior’s luncheons,
            transportation, and friendly visiting.

Family members can also take an active part in helping to ensure the safety of their
            older relatives. 

·                      Find out how your parents or aging relatives wish to be cared for if they should
            become dependent or require medical care.

·                      Don’t take in an older relative on the spur of the moment, such as at the death of one
            parent or because you feel guilty.  Take the time to consider all options.

·                    Carefully examine your own ability to provide care for an increasingly dependent
            relative.

·                      Learn about all the community resources available to seniors and their families, for
            example, home care and respite/relief care.

·                      Do not assume that a difficult relationship will miraculously improve when the parent or
            older person comes to live with you.  It usually doesn’t.

·                      Do not feel you have failed if you are unable to continue to provide home care and
            must seek an alternative.  There is help available.

For other ideas please contact the Muskoka Network Against Elder Abuse at 1-800-777-2205 or 705-646-7677.

Caregiver Meetings: