PARTNERS Family Services is teaming up with Safe Communities Humboldt & Area to hold presentations around the region to educate people on what elder abuse is and what to do if you yourself are abused, or if you know of someone who is being abused.
“It can be aimed at seniors. It can be aimed at anyone. Anyone at all can attend the presentations we’re doing out in the community,” said Karen McCarville, Prevention and Support Services Manager with PARTNERS.
The presentations are funded through the Saskatoon Health Region and will talk about what elder abuse is, who would do it, when and where it can happen, and why it’s important to be informed.
“I think the biggest message is … abuse can happen to anyone,” MacCarville said. “It doesn’t matter what economic background you come from or where you live. It can happen to anyone. Seniors are just a little bit more vulnerable.”
Rachel Trann, executive director of PARNTERS, says when people hear the word abuse, they most often think about physical abuse. That’s part of what constitutes elder abuse, but can also include emotional abuse, neglect, and financial abuse (which can entail a family member siphoning money, online scams, phone scams, and fraud).
“I think it’s just an area that doesn’t get talked about enough,” Trann said. “We talk about bullying and youth and bullying in the workplace and family violence, and it’s just an area that we haven’t put a spotlight on for awhile. We have a growing elder population in our communities and we want to make sure they know support is there and that information is provided.”
For PARTNERS, talking about elder abuse is especially important because of the growing number of seniors in both Humboldt and Saskatchewan.
“This is going to become a growing problem, but we want to grow the solution at the same time,” Trann said.
If seniors or caregivers need help, they can contact PARTNERS, who will help the senior find resources and information, as well as advocate for them and support them through the justice system if it gets to that point. If there is a criminal offense or fraud, seniors should also contact the RCMP.
Aside from abuse, seniors may also face other issues that most people don’t think about, such as mobility issues, social isolation, and struggling with a low income. However, there are little things people can do to make life a little easier for seniors.
“Respect them. Seniors are only different in the fact that they’re a different population in terms of their age,” Trann said. “We need to respect our seniors and learn from our seniors … and take the time to get to know them and to otherwise not treat them differently from everyone else.”
The presentations are on the following dates:
Bruno on June 25
Humboldt on June 30 and July 7
Middle Lake on July 14
LeRoy on July 15
Watson on July 21
Muenster on July 28
Lanigan on August 18
For more information or to pre-register, contact PARTNERS at (306) 682-4135.
