A Silent Crisis: Elder Abuse and Justice

My grandmother’s life intersected squarely with the unprecedented rise in life expectancy for all elders. This rise has also led to one of our greatest silent crises: elder abuse.

About same time Alzheimer’s began to cloud my grandmother's once sharp mind, she heard a knock on the door of her 3rd floor apartment in Des Moines, Iowa. She opened it to find a friendly salesman selling John F. Kennedy half-dollars made out of pure gold in a frame with a blue velvet backing. They made an exchange --she handed him a check for $900 and the swindler gave her one dollar in coins.

ELDER ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES
For millions of elderly people in the United States just like my grandmother, living longer has also meant living in silent fear, battered and beaten, preyed upon, often quieted by shame. Elder abuse is a prolific problem that comes in many forms – physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with many elders suffering more than just one type of abuse. Of the five million elders estimated to suffer abuse in the U.S. alone each year, the vast majority are subject to multiple forms of mistreatment. They are also three times more likely to die prematurely than those who are not victimized.

Yet, elder abuse is not perceived as a national tragedy. No one talks about it. Silence remains, in part, because many of our elders are isolated by and dependent on those who hurt them, and the perceived shame and stigma of disclosing that they are suffering at the hands of their own caregiver can act as a powerful silencer. But abuse also stays hidden because many older Americans don’t have the means or the capacity to report it.

At the rare times when elder abuse is publicly discussed, the conversations usually feature the voices Elder Justice advocates, social workers or journalists. A typical example is this CBS News report from 2006. Only occasionally do we get a glimpse into the elders' views which can be seen in this video taken at an elder justice rally.

Insights from these experts are critical in the fight to secure justice for older Americans but so is the wisdom from these elders themselves, and to date their voices have been absent from the debate that affects them most directly.

I was surprised to learn how deeply buried this issue is because elder abuse touches us all. It cuts across gender, social, racial, ethnic, economic and geographic lines - yet it’s rarely mentioned in social justice or human rights circles nationally or even internationally. Key UN documents from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Millennium Development Goals omit any mention of age. And here at home the U.S Congress has yet to pass comprehensive federal legislation to protect our oldest members of society, placing it 20 years behind advocacy to protect children from abuse and 10 years behind the work to end domestic violence.

THE ELDER JUSTICE COALITION
To address this colossal fissure in our laws, more than 500 members of the Elder Justice Coalition (EJC) have been vigilantly working over the course of the last decade to secure the passage of the Elder Justice Act (EJA) through Congress. Passing this Act will provide us with a foundation from which we can begin to protect our society’s elders because it will provide long-needed support for programs to help us understand how to prevent and detect abuse, intervene where it happens, treat victims with dignity and respect, and fairly prosecute perpetrators.

Yet despite the EJA’s principled objectives and many years of effort, one of the authors of the Act, Marie-Therese Connolly explains, “Comprehensive federal laws to combat child abuse and domestic violence have had an immense impact for decades. By contrast, the relatively uncontroversial Elder Justice Act has languished (in Congress) since 2002.” With the recent changes in Washington, now is the time to pass this act and give America’s elders the security, dignity and equality they deserve.

A NEW WITNESS PARTNERSHIP with the NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING
So why is this important to WITNESS? We are partnering with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) – which has been working on behalf of disadvantaged and vulnerable Elders for over 60 years - to bring the voices of Older Americans to this debate, heighten the visibility of Elder abuse, and end Congressional complacency. In addition to securing passage of the EJA, WITNESS and NCOA will work with Elder Justice organizations across the country, training activists in strategic video advocacy planning and giving them the skills necessary to collect stories of abuse to bring Elder Justice into the national conversation.

Once footage from across the country has been gathered and edited, we will collaborate to reach key Congressional representatives, the national media and our citizenry with compelling stories which will force us to face our elders, end our collective denial and pass the EJA.

YOU TOO CAN STAND UP FOR OUR ELDERS
WITNESS and NCOA are just beginning work on the planning of this video advocacy campaign. We'd like you to join in as we move forward with this campaign to pass the Elder Justice Act and showcase the voices of older Americans:

• Return to the Hub Blog for updates on the production process in the weeks and months ahead
• Sign up for the Video for Change newsletter for updates on the Elder Justice Campaign
• Read more about the work of the NCOA at http://www.ncoa.org, and
• Visit the site of the Elder Justice Coalition at http://www.elderjusticecoalition.com/

Most of all though, we ask you to listen as we bring the voices of American’s elders to you throughout this campaign. Please hear what they have to say. Respect their voice. Value their wisdom. Add yours.

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WEAAD Today ! Thank an Elder

Celebrate
World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day
Annually on 15 June!

Show the world you care
about ending elder abuse and neglect.

"Wear something purple"
on World Awareness Day - every June 15th.

get your WEAAD materials here:

http://0044c40.netsolhost.com/weaad.html

Elder Abuse Laws 20 Years Behind

Ontario, Canada by Adam Peck, Guelph

Seniors advocates hope that Friday's June 15 , World Elder Abuse Awareness Day will lead to a better understanding of what they call an unnoticed crime.

"It's not that this is a new problem. It's probably where child abuse was 20 years ago," said Sheli O'Connor, Wellington County's Seniors At Risk system coordinator. "It's still considered a hidden crime."

There are five broad categories of abuse: financial, emotional, physical, sexual and neglect. Of those, emotional and financial abuse make up the vast majority of cases, she said.

Emotional abuse includes name-calling, treating elders as children, harassing them for money and threatening to institutionalize them.

Financial abuse is often related to misuse of power of attorney and usually occurs when a son or daughter is in financial trouble, and uses the power of attorney to sell their parent's house and assets and keeps the money for themselves. Often, a son or daughter's financial trouble will arise from a loss of job, addiction or mental health problems.

Although there are a few prominent examples of elder abuse, O'Connor says it's the number of unreported crimes that makes this silent crime so deafening.

"For every one you hear about, there are five crimes that aren't reported," she said.

A reason why it goes unreported is that 90 per cent of the time, abuse is committed by family members - often adult children - leaving victims feeling embarrassed, ashamed and afraid to come forward. And, she said, when abuse is reported it is often the financial and emotional forms, as they are considered less violating than other forms.

"They may be the ones you're hearing about, because it's easier (for an elderly person ) to report that their son took money from their account than they sexually assaulted them," she said.

Because victims are adults and not considered to be vulnerable and defenceless, there are no mandatory reporting laws like there are for child abuse, she said.

As seniors age, their support circles shrink and they can become quite isolated.

But he believes elder abuse is a problem that will continue to grow as the baby boomers get older, leading to more crimes and causing a greater demand for a specific police unit to deal with the offences.

Despite the criminal connotations, O'Connor says that elder abuse is a symptom of a bigger problem, which is society's own insecurities about aging, and abusing older people is one of the ways it is expressed. Essentially, she says, attitudes have to change if elder abuse is to stop. "It's about changing behavior and attitudes, not about a product," she said. "It's about changing how we feel about aging.

"It's not looking at the white hairs on the head and thinking it's a bad thing."

The SOS hotline is available 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday at (519) 767-4445.

Edited and Abridged for E.A. read entire article here >>

Your New Badges and Banners Are Ready

Here are some badges for the initiative Bloggers against Abuse. For any and all information about the project Go to : You Can Be Part of Blogging History

Instructions: Copy and Paste the code in the box next to the badge you've chosen, in order to insert it into your website.

Spread the word among all the bloggers you know!

and link them to the page relevant to the abuse that you want to document and have on record .....

--- and be sure to link your posts to You Can Be a Part of Blogging History.

I don't know how to thank Zazzà enough so I am not even goin to try ....to tell you how good that was, the new Banners and Buttoms, that is. Zazza you Rock !


Thank You Zazza your work on the design of the new badges !

And reading your Blog in your native language the daddy of the Romance Languages, Italian.. it doesn't get any better than this Folks !

To be perfectly fair thanks to all the graphic designers who put their time into this , please Email me and I will link you.

Posters a Hit!

by Lisa Neremberg

Word got around about the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day posters designed by a class at City College of San Francisco. I've had 1,000 guests visit my blog this month to check them out, and the City College folks had requests for the artwork from all over the world. The posters have been shown by agencies in the US, Australia, and Canada, and they even made an appearance at the World Health Organization's event in Geneva, Switzerland. Georgia's Department of Human Services had them emailed to all the supervisors across the state, and they will be displayed at a conference for California Long Term Care Ombudsmen in the spring.

"It was rewarding to work on such a meaningful project. The students and I learned much about a topic that we were hardly aware of. We are very happy that our work was met with such enthusiasm."

Regina Rowland, Professor of Graphic Communications, City College of San Francisco

"It's great to see that our hard work has had such a good reception and taken on a life of it's own after we finished working on it."

Clinton Froehlich, Student Project Director

For more on how World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was observed around world, see the website of the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

Types of Abuse

When the general public (or the police) thinks about domestic violence, they usually think in terms of physical assault that results in visible injuries to the victim. This is only one type of abuse.

There are several categories of abusive behavior, each of which has its own devastating consequences. Lethality involved with physical abuse may place the victim at higher risk, but the long term destruction of personhood that accompanies the other forms of abuse is significant and cannot be minimized.

CONTROL
Controlling behavior is a way for the batterer to maintain his dominance over the victim. The belief that he is justified in the controlling behavior, and the resultant abuse is the core issue in abuse of women. It is often subtle, almost always insidious, and pervasive.

PHYSICAL ABUSE
Forcible physical restraint against her will, Holding the victim hostage.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND INTIMIDATION
According to the AMEND Workbook for Ending Violent Behavior, emotional abuse is any behavior that exploits anther's vulnerability, insecurity, or character. Such behaviors include continuous degradation, intimidation, manipulation, brainwashing, or control of another to the detriment of the individual(AMEND 3).

ISOLATION
Isolation is a form of abuse often closely connected to controlling behaviors. It is not an isolated behavior, but the outcome of many kinds of abusive behaviors.

As it progresses, the isolation expands, limiting or excluding her contact with anyone but the batterer. Eventually, she is left totally alone

ECONOMIC ABUSE
Financial abuse is a way to control the victim through manipulation of economic resources.

The truth is, the abuser must be held accountable for his behavior.

Abridged and adopted as to what has been my experience of Elder abuse, read the entire un-abridged version , as originally posted in Sanctuary for the Abused here >>

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Issued a Proclamation last Friday declaring "International Elder Abuse Awareness Day" in the city.

Hoping to raise awareness about the critical issues of elder abuse, neglect and abuse prevention in New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a proclamation last Friday declaring "International Elder Abuse Awareness Day" in the city.

As part of the effort to alert all Americans to the seriousness of this problem, the mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) joined with the city Department for the Aging (DFTA) in an educational conference to mark the day.

Entitled "Breaking Down Barriers, Addressing Financial Exploitation Through Partnerships", the conference, held at New School University Institute for Retired Professionals in Manhattan, was designed to help professionals from the legal, financial, medical and social work communities address the complex of problems and emerging issues related to elder abuse.

Among the topics addressed were effective interventions, challenges faced in identifying financially abused seniors, how to treat abusers and financial literacy.

In a release announcing the special day to raise awareness, the DFTA defined the problem as "encompassing several forms of mistreatment of older persons", including physical, emotional/psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as acts of exploitation, neglect and abandonment.

According to the most recent estimates, the DFTA said, "Between a million and two million Americans aged 65 or older have been injured, exploited or otherwise mistreated by someone they are dependent on for care or protection."

Because of the nature of elder abuse, its actual level of occurrence and prevalence is vastly under-reported, the DFTA said. Social isolation and mental impairment, such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease, are two factors that increase vulnerability to various forms of abuse.

DFTA, which sees approximately, 1,700 clients a year, said public education and awareness are important elements in preventing abuse and neglect, including educating older New Yorkers on how to recognize risk factors and providing them with information on resources available to them.

According to DFTAs Elderly Crime Victims Resource Center, it's estimated that only one in 14 victims of elder abuse

report the abuse to authorities. Almost 50 percent of the clients referred to the Resource Center are victims of financial abuse. In 2006, 11 percent (eight out of 71) of all family-related homicides involved a victim over the age of 59.

As part of International Elder Abuse Awareness Day in New York City, DFTA Commissioner Edwin Mendez-

Santiago stated: "Every year, thousands

of seniors suffer at the hands of abuse and unfortunately the abuse- in any of its many forms- is rarely reported to the police.

"Elder abuse is one of the city's most under-reported crimes and World Elder Abuse Awareness Day offers the city's two lead agencies the ability to spread the word about the services and educational opportunities available to older New Yorkers, caregivers and family members."

OCDV Commissioner Yolanda Jiminez stated: "Our city is working to help stop the cycle of violence and give a voice to older New Yorkers who are victims of this often unrecognized crime. By creating a strong network of dedicated community and government organizations that provide vital services to our most vulnerable residents, we are working to create safer, more livable conditions for all our residents."

Help for victims is available 24 hours a day by calling 911, 311 or the New York City Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800- 621-HOPE (4673). More information is also available at the OCDV Web site, www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence.

Standing Up for Elderly

THE neglect and abuse of the elderly was highlighted during a special day.

A group from the county council was in the High Street last Friday for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Members of the county council's older people's team wore sashes and handed out adult abuse is a crime - let's end it now stickers to raise awareness of the seriousness of this crime.

Elder abuse takes many forms including physical, sexual, financial, neglect, discriminatory or psychological. It can be carried out by relatives, carers, professionals or even strangers. Many cases go unreported.

Anthony Blagg, the county councillor for Bromsgrove Central, said: "We need to spread the word among the residents of Bromsgrove that this sort of abuse exists and provide advice and information on what to do if they think someone is being abused. We need to put a stop to it."

Anyone interested in finding out more can contact the action line on 0808 8088141 or log on to www.worcestershire.gov.uk/adultabuse

Key West Convalescent Center Celebrates WEAAD With Its own star 'Gloria'

Gloria stole the show with her singing, when she heard the music the words just came back and she gave a moving duet of "Besame Mucho" with Ray. Then she did a couple of more songs and we all had a great time.

Gloria a Star in her own right was a showstopper with her singing and showmanship, the simple gifts that we brought made the residents so happy, seeing their eyes light up, and enjoying this quality time together was such an honor, you have enriched my life with the experience and you took care of us when we were vulnerable. We shall not forget you and we will always make time for you because you are so special!

Gloria,Ray and another resident delight the crowd with a well recognized tune.

This resident surprised everyone with her impromptu imitation of Diana Ross

Thank You Laurine of Key West Karaoke for helping make this day a success , and thank you Olga, activities director for caring so much, the care, attention and love you give these people, you would think that they were your family.

Elder Abuse's own Webmaster belts out a tune for the benefit of the residents, when one of the residents took the mike and spoke about how long and monotonous their day is and how much fun they had and how much they appreciated that we remembered them, had us fighting back tears.

KWCC has close to 100 residents, and to get a lot of them in the cafeteria, feed them, bring them refreshments, talk to them , you really need a huge effort. Olga you were amazing!

Help Us Celebrate 2nd World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD)

We ask everyone to consider how important Elder Day really is and please volunteer your time to go to a retirement home near you and bring small gift. You can get excellent perfumes at the Dollar store, bring an elder a gift, he won't care you only paid a dollar for it, he cares about the thought, and he/she will feel good about it and their eyes will light up when they see that someone cares.

Unfortunately in Key West too many people park their elders at the Key West Convalescent Center and forget about them, recent regulations require that an elders care plan be signed off by the elders proxy, otherwise the State levies a fine on the Home.

Now how in the world you going to get the elders family to sign off on a care plan if they can't be found? They only surface when an elder is hurt, and many times because they think that they can get money then by filing suit against the home, which in order to avoid a prolonged trial and ever ending legal fees then settles with you , we know about those kinds of scams too!

If you are in Key West come to the Key West Convalescent Center, on Friday 15 at 3 PM We will be there with many gifts that have been donated by people who care, and we will be giving them out , there will be food, refreshment and Karaoke.

Please do this on Friday, make it early from 2-3 PM on, that's is the best time, but contact a local retirement home near you and make sure that your efforts are coordinated.

Please make a showing on Friday 15 and show you care........................

Open Letter to Our Senators

Honorable Senators;

Today on June 15, people worldwide will join together to recognize the second annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was first declared last year by the World Health Organization and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of the abuse of older adults as a means to prevent and combat all types of elder abuse.

June 15, 2007, marks the second annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Elder abuse can be physical, emotional, verbal or financial in form. Neglect can also be considered a form of abuse. Many seniors do not report abuse, or feel isolated and afraid to speak out. As a result, the problem of elder abuse remains largely hidden behind closed doors.

We must find ways to show our seniors that elder abuse exists, that it is not tolerated, and that there is help available in our communities to cope. This includes finding ways not only to help victims, but to prevent abuse before it happens.

Honourable Senators, we need to work together to stand up for those who have helped build this country to make it what it is today.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day offers the opportunity to change attitudes and behaviours when it comes to the abuse of older adults.

I ask that all Honourable Senators work to help our Government reach out to our seniors' communities so that we can break down the wall of silence and show older people that elder abuse exists, that it is not tolerated, and that there is help available in our communities.

Old people here often seen as 'Problematic' and 'Disposable

by RUTH EGLASH of The Jerusalem Post

According to Sharabi, the main problem is society's attitude toward older people, who are very often seen as "problematic" or "disposable," and the only way to improve the situation for those "who built this country" is through increased awareness and education.

"We have a society that is abusive to the elderly population," he said. "I know of many elderly people who cannot leave their homes because it's just too difficult for them. No one takes any notice of their needs and many of them are too old or frail to put up a fight."

"An 80-year-old woman in one of our day clubs has been suffering terribly at the hands of her children," said Sharabi. "Their aim is to kick her out of her home so that they can live there, and they have made her living conditions unbearable in order to force her out."

"Even the most straightforward and genuine of people can suddenly turn abusive when it becomes an issue of money," Sharabi said. "They seem to lose sight of what is right and fail to behave appropriately."

Abridged >>

WEAAD Proclamation

• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
  Proclamation
  
  WHEREAS (Country's name) seniors are valued members of society and it is our
  collective responsibility to ensure they live safely and with dignity; and
  WHEREAS abuse of older people is a tragedy inflicted on vulnerable seniors,
  and ever-increasing problem in today’s society that crosses all socio-economic
  boundaries;
  
  
  WHEREAS combating abuse of older people will help improve the quality of life
  for all seniors across this country and will allow seniors to continue to live as
  independently as possible and contribute to the life and vibrancy of (Country’s
  Name);
  
  WHEREAS (Country’s) seniors are guaranteed that they will be treated with
  respect and dignity to enable them to continue to serve as leaders, mentors,
  volunteers and important and active members of this community;
  
  WHEREAS we are all responsible for building safer communities for
  (Country’s) seniors; and
  WHEREAS the well-being of (Country’s Name) seniors is in the interest of all
  and further adds to the well-being of (Country’s Name) communities;
  
  I, Mayor of (City Name), do hereby proclaim World Elder Abuse Awareness
  Day on June 15, 2007 and encourage all (Country’s Name) to recognize and
  celebrate the accomplishments of (Country’s Name) seniors.
  Dated in the Mayor’s Office on this _____ day of ________, 2007.
  ______________________ Mayor

---------------------------------------------

We are publishing it for the benefit of other cities and towns to be used as a model to adopt such resolutions. And we Will work hard for the day where Elders are zealously protected in our own southernmost city of Key West.

Cities like Solano, California who has adopted such resolutions, perhaps in coming years our town will see the necessity to stand up for our elders and give them the recognition and the protection they so deserve.

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Contributed by: Nichole Parmelly Arapahoe County- Colorado

Elder abuse and the aging population is cause for concern
It's difficult to imagine who could abuse and neglect their grandfather or the frail senior who lives down the street, but it happens more frequently than you might expect.

"With our population aging, there will be more people to victimize and greater opportunities to abuse, neglect and financially exploit our elderly citizens," said Angela Lytle, Children, Youth and Family Services Manager for Arapahoe County. "If our community understands the seriousness of this issue, we will be able to better protect our senior population. That is just one of the reasons why Governor Bill Ritter proclaimed June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day."

For many, abuse, exploitation or neglect is caused by a caregiver or a member of their own family. Often the victim is totally dependent upon the abuser and is afraid to complain for fear of reprisal. It has been estimated that as many as 10 percent of older adults are victimized by abuse. However, only one in eight abuse incidents is actually reported.

Arapahoe County's Human Services staff continues to work diligently because they know the positive impact they have on those in dire need. It is especially rewarding when those who are helped give a giant hug and gracious thanks in return.

For more information on elder abuse and prevention, go to http://www.ccerap.org/ or www.coloradoaging.com or call 303-636-1750 to report a suspected case of abuse or neglect. The Arapahoe County Department of Human Services may be able to help.

Solano County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution declaring June 15, 2007 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Solano County.

Elder Abuse Awareness Day Solano County - California

Solano County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution declaring June 15, 2007 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Solano County.

"This resolution contributes to the overall public education campaign of making people aware that we have, unfortunately, people in our community who will prey on our seniors," said Supervisor Mike Reagan, chairman of the Board of Supervisors. "As our County goes from a quarter to a third of our population age 50 and older, we need to ensure more seniors are educated about the potential of abuse so they can protect themselves, and to increase the awareness in the rest of society to identify the signs of elder abuse."

According to the California Department of Finance, there were 94,555 people age 50 and older in Solano in 2000, or 23.8% of the county's total population. That number is expected to nearly double by 2020 – 180,784 or 32.6% of the county's total population.

"Awareness efforts like this resolution help spread the word that abuse of any kind is not acceptable. Everyone should be able to live safe, secure lives without fear, neglect, pain or exploitation," said Supervisor Barbara Kondylis.

In 2006, Solano County Adult Protective Services staff investigated 805 allegations of abuse of elders or dependent adults living in their own homes. Of those, 307 allegations were found to be true.

The California Department of Social Services Adult Protective Services and County Services Block Grant Monthly Report show a 24 percent increase in reports of abuse and neglect from fiscal years 2000-01 to 2005-06. Similarly, APS opened cases increased 21 percent during the same time.

According to a 2004 study from the National Center on Elder Abuse, reports of elder and vulnerable adult abuse and neglect have increased 19 percent and reports of substantiated cases have increased 15 percent since 2000. This represents 8 reports of abuse for every 1,000 older Americans.

"The Board of Supervisors' recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day brings much-needed attention to this serious issue," said Donna Fields, interim deputy director of Older and Disabled Adult Services.

The Senior Coalition of Solano County is in the process of compiling a status report on seniors in Solano County. This report, due in early 2008, will address the myriad of issues impacting seniors.

Stand For Your Elders

Jerusalem Post.com By NAOMI SHARAB

Israel should have a good track record in its treatment of its senior population, for Judaism is demonstrative in its commandment to respect the elderly. In Leviticus 19:32, the Torah commands us to rise in the presence of an older person and honor the aged. Similarly, the fifth of the Ten Commandments is to honor our parents.

The success of the Pensioners' Party in Israel's past elections would also create the impression that our elders are cherished and respected members of Israeli society.

So does the Jewish state really need to commemorate World Elder-Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 - established to help society "recognize and respond to the mistreatment of older people in whatever setting it occurs, so that the latter years of life will be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation."

Unfortunately, the simple answer is "yes." In over 30 years of working with elderly people from all socioeconomic backgrounds, but mostly the poor, I have seen horrifying cases of abuse. Sometimes the abuse is intentional; often it has come about through neglect that may be hard to label outright abuse.

ONE ELDERLY woman who comes to mind was bedridden, living in a damp stone house in one of Jerusalem's oldest neighborhoods. Her poor health and frail body made it difficult for her to hear and even harder for others to distinguish her mumbled words.

Her son and daughter-in-law were reluctant to move her to a retirement home because their elderly mother would have to sell her own home in order to pay for the care. They said she wished to remain in her home and leave it to them as an inheritance. So they tried to care for her as best they could, and Ezrat Avot eased the burden by bringing her easily-digestible hot meals daily.

When the winter winds chilled her room we gave her a radiator. During a visit a couple of weeks later our volunteer noticed that the radiator was missing. The daughter-in-law had taken it for herself (when confronted with the theft she returned it).

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines elder abuse as "a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person."

According to this definition (and basic ethics) the daughter-in-law in my example was guilty of abuse by stealing a possession necessary to keep her mother-in-law warm. But was keeping the old woman in her home until she passed away - soon afterwards - also an act of abuse? How can you gauge when concern is really abuse? And does anyone care?

A 2005 STUDY by Haifa University revealed that 18.4% of seniors in Israel were exposed to at least one type of abuse: physical or sexual violence (2%), verbal abuse (8.1%), limitations on freedom (2.7%) financial exploitation (6.6%); and a massive 25% suffered from neglect that led to a lack of food, hygiene and medical treatment. Sadly, most of this abuse or neglect was on the part of family members or caregivers.

If these statistics are not sufficiently shocking, a more recent survey by Haifa University of seniors admitted to Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem and Rambam Hospital, Haifa, revealed that 26.5 % reported that they had been abused, or were deemed by hospital staff to have suffered abuse.

The physical and/or mental vulnerability of the aged puts them at risk in the first place and makes it difficult for them to report abuse.

The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, in its promotion of an Elder-Abuse Awareness Day states that "empowering older persons is the most effective tool in the response to elder abuse."

Abridged >>

The writer, a past recipient of the Ministry of Welfare Award for Volunteerism, is co-founder and director of Ezrat Avot. info@ezratavot.org or www.ezratavot.org

Help Us Change Lives Now!

Many older people in developing countries perform a vital but unrecognised role caring for the millions of children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. A website launched today by Help the Aged shows the harsh routine they are coping with on a daily basis.
But development work often stops short of reaching the oldest and most vulnerable. Without proper intervention by humanitarian services, older people and their dependents are at risk of staying invisible.
Visit our website and petition the Government for better and more targeted aid to older people. The click of a mouse has never seemed more powerful. Click here to change lives

Attention News Editors:

June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

TORONTO, June 13 /CNW/ - The Ontario Provincial Police - Seniors
Assistance Team joins hundreds of other community-based organizations, across Ontario, in recognizing June 15th,2007 as the second annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Statistics Canada indicates that 10% of seniors over the age of 65 suffer
from one or more forms of elder abuse. Research has also shown that there is a
great reluctance by older adults to report these crimes to police or service
providers to stop the abuse from continuing.

Throughout Ontario and the rest of the world, abuse and neglect of older
persons is largely under-recognized or treated as an unspoken problem.
Unfortunately, no community or country in the world is immune from this
costly, public health and human rights crisis. Research indicates that public
education campaigns like World Elder Abuse Awareness Day are vital to
informing citizens of the cost of abuse in our society.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an opportunity for all Ontarians to
recognize and value the contributions made by seniors every day in communities
across the province. Currently Ontario's seniors population is estimated to be
1.64 million which represents 13% of our total population.

The Ontario Provincial Police is committed to supporting "Safe
Communities... A Secure Ontario" for all citizens, including our seniors',
through public education, awareness and crime prevention initiatives. Members
of the Ontario Provincial Police will be conducting information sessions on
seniors' issues in partnership with other community agencies, throughout the
month of June which is also seniors month.

As citizens of Ontario, we all need to work together to protect our
seniors from unscrupulous people who may intentionally be targeting our aging
population. Preventing elder abuse is a community challenge which will not be
resolved quickly by one person or one approach and will require a community
effort to stop the abuse.

If you are aware of a senior who may be a victim of elder abuse, you can
report it anonymously. Call Seniors Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
www.ontariocrimestoppers.com
For more information, you may contact your local OPP detachment, or visit
the OPP website at: www.opp.ca
For more information about the OPP's Seniors Assistance Team contact:

OPP Crime Prevention Section
General Headquarters
705-329-7680

For further information: Contact Person: Sergeant Rick Tout, OPP Seniors
Assistance Team, (705) 329-7680

June Is Elder Abuse Awareness Month

By John E. Nale WATERVILLE (June 11) :

Whoever coined the phrase “the circle of life” certainly knew what he or she was talking about because, as humans, that’s exactly what our lives are, a circle.

By that, I mean that we end our lives how and where we started. We start life as frail, fragile infants, and many of us end life pretty much the same way, as frail, fragile adults. It can’t be avoided and it can’t be prevented.

It’s “the circle of life.”

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month and, although we can’t avoid or prevent the circle of life from happening, we can avoid and prevent elder abuse from happening.

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Elder Abuse Website Closes Rank to Break the Silence

Agencies ‘Break the Silence’; Campaign to launch June 15
By Vanessa White, Independent Newspapers

Karen Stegenga’s passion for educating the public about elder abuse started when her father battled Lou Gherig’s disease for 11 years.

“That was my first exposure to caregiving and the stresses it can cause within the family. Not that my father was abused, but the emotions that go with it. It’s draining emotionally and financially,” Ms. Stegenga said. “It prompted me to get a certificate in gerontology, where I did a paper on elder abuse. It bothers me.”

“Elder abuse isn’t just physical abuse,” Ms. Feldbauer said. “It is physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.”

Which, Ms. Stegenga said, is one of the largest and most unknown form of elder abuse.

“A lot of the experts in the field think that financial exploitation is going to be the crime of the century. It needs to be reported,” Ms. Stegenga said. “We know it’s a family issue.

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