Seniors Advocates Explore Ways To Guard Against Elder Abuse

By Keith Vass The Chronicle British Columbia

How do you respond when an adult you know is being abused, taken advantage of or neglected?

A legal workshop held Thursday aimed to help people who work with seniors or those who cannot tend to their own needs find the answer to that question.

“It’s something the public is not aware of, it’s not something we talk about,” says Pat Edge, seniors coordinator at the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association.

Abuse can take a variety of forms, from neglect, to physical, emotional and financial.

Edge says even she had to go through a rude awakening about the reality of elder abuse.

“I did not believe there was any abuse of seniors until I got involved in the community and talking to them.” more information on handling elder abuse, visit the Community Respone Network online at www.bccrns.ca, or call the Ladysmith Resources Centre 245-3079.