{"id":6022,"date":"2024-06-17T15:23:27","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T15:23:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/victoria\/?p=6022"},"modified":"2026-02-23T19:55:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T19:55:25","slug":"elder-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/victoria\/blog\/elder-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Elder Abuse: Together We Can Break the Cycle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Senior<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Every Family in Victoria, BC, Needs to Know About Elder Abuse Prevention, Warning Signs and Solutions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What do you need to know about Elder Abuse? <\/strong> One of the most notorious forms of elder abuse is unscrupulous financial scammers targeting the elderly. However, what many people fail to recognize is that elder abuse extends far beyond just fraud and scams, being more widespread and pervasive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elder abuse encompasses a wide range of mistreatment, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, abandonment, and neglect. It most often comes from family members, friends, or surprisingly, even the seniors themselves in the form of self-neglect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

#DYK – Nearly 50% of older adults with dementia suffer from elder abuse.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Elder abuse is often under-reported<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, it is also greatly under-reported, with one study estimating that only 1 in 14 cases is ever brought to the attention of authorities, medical professionals, or social service providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This lack of reporting can have devastating consequences for older individuals, with abused elders having a 300% increased chance of death compared to their peers who have not suffered abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fiscal impact is equally severe, with abuse costing the healthcare system an additional $5.3 billion annually and the victims $2.9 billion in annual losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is at the greatest risk for senior abuse?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any senior can become prey to abuse, but those with dementia or disabilities are at a considerably higher risk. Women, both disabled and non-disabled, are more prone to abuse than men. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 90% of all cases, abuse comes from spouses, partners, adult children or other family members. There is an increased chance that family members who have drug, alcohol or mental health problems or those who feel burdened by caregiving responsibilities will be abused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Comfort Keepers\u00ae, we understand that seniors living alone can face challenges such as isolation, depression, dementia, and disabilities. These issues can prevent them from properly caring for themselves, leading to self-neglect. The Administration on Aging and the National Center on Elder Abuse<\/a> recognize self-neglect as a significant form of elder abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you help stop elder abuse?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is important to understand how to safeguard our elderly community members from abuse. Families can take the following steps to help protect our older community members.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Center on Elder Abuse recommends:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Be aware of seniors in your family and community; get to know them and talk with them to help reduce isolation, a risk factor for mistreatment and self-neglect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Report suspected abuse or neglect and continue to be vocal if you feel the situation has not improved. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. You can report the abuse or neglect of seniors who are in immediate danger by calling the local police or 911. You can find more resources on the Government of Canada Seniors Website (http:\/\/www.seniors.gc.ca\/eng\/pie\/eaa\/index.shtml<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Warning signs of senior abuse include the following:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n