Ontario Provincial Police Recognizes World Elder Abuse Day
ORILLIA, Ontario, June 15, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - June 15, 2011 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like Ontarians to familiarize themselves with the warning signs of elder abuse to ensure that our aging loved ones do not have to worry about abuse or neglect.
By learning to identify the warning signs, people can detect and report incidents of abuse and neglect among aging members of our community.
Seniors may have unexplainable physical injuries, changes in personality, be socially withdrawn and have attitude or abnormal behavior. They may also show signs of poor hygiene, lack of nutrition or necessities and suddenly become unable to meet financial obligations. Financial abuse is the most common form of elder abuse as individuals attempt to cash in financially on a population they see as "vulnerable".
If you see any senior members of your community exposed to one or more of these circumstances, help protect them by reporting suspected abuse. It's important that everyone be able to talk about elder abuse openly and seniors should feel empowered to talk with caregivers, family members or physicians anytime they feel threatened.
The OPP continues to work with community and government agencies across Ontario as well as front-line officers so they can recognize when elder abuse may be occurring and take the appropriate action. The OPP as well as our aging loved ones are counting on the eyes and ears of the public to help stop elder abuse. For more resources on safety for seniors visit the OPP website at: Seniors Assistance.
Awareness campaigns are invaluable in preventing elder abuse, so on June 15 2011 and throughout the month of June, Ontarians are encouraged to recognize the International World Elder Abuse Awareness Day campaign to help prevent and stop elder abuse in our local communities.
