Violence Against Seniors is Most Often Perpetuated by Their Adult Children

Canada's secretary of state for seniors called for zero tolerance on elder abuse "in all its ugly forms" during a meeting to discuss issues affecting the overall health of Canada's aging population.

Marjory LeBreton made the comments Friday as federal, provincial and territorial ministers for seniors held a day-and-a-half meeting in Saskatoon.

"Our government is taking the issue of elder abuse very seriously. As a society we should have zero tolerance for elder abuse in all of its ugly forms," LeBreton said in a statement Friday.

Seniors make up a growing segment of the Canadian population. The number of seniors is projected to more than double from 4.3 million today to 9.8 million by 2036 when one in four Canadians will be over the age of 65, according to the minister's statement.

Violence against seniors is most often perpetuated by their adult children

according to Statistics Canada's 2004 report "Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile."Spousal abuse makes up the second highest incidence of family violence toward seniors with older women more likely to be victimized by family members.

"Of the approximate 1,100 older adult victims of violence by family members, about 700 or 64 per cent) were females," the report says.

StatsCan reports the most common form of violence for seniors is common assault followed by robbery