Nine per cent of older Albertans are abused, seniors advocates say

By KENDALL KING, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on June 15, 2022.

Affecting roughly nine per cent of older Albertans, elder abuse is an issue top of mind for seniors advocates locally and across the province. Today, on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, advocates are hoping to provide information and support to those experiencing it.

“The Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council defines elder abuse as any action or inaction by a person or persons in a trusting relationship which causes harm or distress to an older adult,” Shantel Ottenbreit, Hatter and AEAAC chair, told the News. “It’s something which happens within a relationship where an older adult should be able to assume they can trust the other person. And that trust is really what the abuser takes advantage of and uses to gain power and control over the older adults.”

The AEAAC recognizes six distinct forms of elder abuse, including physical, emotional/psychological, financial, sexual and medication abuse, as well as neglect. And each form of abuse can exist independently of, or in conjunction with other forms.

“From a local perspective, the ones we predominantly see would be financial abuse and emotional, psychological abuse. Those are our two highest reported,” said Ottenbreit.

With seniors aged 65-plus comprising about 20 per cent of Medicine Hat’s total population, elder abuse is a concern for Ottenbreit and other local seniors advocates.

“Nine per cent (of Albertans) experience elder abuse every single year,” Ottenbreit said. “If we apply that to the 2021 statistics Stats Canada released for (individuals) over 65 in Medicine Hat, there’s approximately 1,193 seniors being abused.”

Ottenbreit admits exact statistics are difficult to calculate as many seniors experiencing abuse are unwilling or unable to report the abuse.

“We know there’s lots which goes unreported, because there is so many complexities that go around elder abuse,” she said. “Elder abuse is often perpetrated by family members. And therefore, the person (experiencing the abuse) is less likely to come forward and make a disclosure about the abuse until it gets really bad.”

Others may not have the capability to report, depending on health or access to public services and spaces. Even reported cases may not be included in statistics, depending on where the individual makes their report.

“It is challenging to capture numbers, because some might go to the case manager, the women’s shelters, the police services, their doctor, even just – depending on what type of abuse they’re experiencing and where they think to get services – they might not come forward to professional service provider at all,” Ottenbreit said. “They might just try to deal with it on their own or try to reach out to friends and family to be able to assist them through it.

“I think that speaks to the importance of educating our neighbours, friends and family.”

Ottenbreit says the information shared today will provide individuals the knowledge they need to address elder abuse.

“It happens within our community and everybody has a role to play in being able to prevent and end it,” she said.

Local AEAAC representatives will be present at Medicine Hat’s Veiner Centre through the day. The Centre is also hosting an information session presented by Jeanette Devore, Medicine Hat Family Service elder abuse case manager.

Additional information about elder abuse can be found on AEAAC’s website. For support, contact Medicine Hat Family Service at 403-504-8026.

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