June 15 has been declared World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in the City of Powell River.
The proclamation was made at the City of Powell River Council meeting on June 6.
At the June 4 committee of the whole meeting, Powell River Community Response Network (CRN) chair Cathy Korolek appeared as a delegation to outline elder abuse awareness day. She said she did not believe the extent of the abuse of seniors is widely known.
Korolek said Powell River CRN is one of about 80 CRNs in the province that are members of the BC CRN.
“Our CRN is made up of a diverse group of community agencies, government agencies, health professionals and individuals who are committed to educating the community about adult abuse,” said Korolek. “The most common types of elder abuse include: physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse and abandonment. Any of these elder abuse types can be devastating to older people and their families.”
Korolak said on February 11, 2019, a meeting was held in Powell River to assess the need for a CRN to address the issue of senior abuse in the community. She said at the conclusion of the meeting, a consensus was reached to begin development of a new CRN locally. In 2010, Powell River’s former CRN folded because of a lack of community support, according to Korolek. Powell River Senior Citizens Branch 49 is now the host institution for the CRN.
“According to the office of BC seniors advocate, approximately one in six people aged 60 years or older experience some form of abuse in the community setting,” said Korolek. “This is predicted to increase, as we experience rapidly aging populations. Many seniors and their families turn to multiple organizations to seek help, which can include CRNs, provincial health authorities, home and community care, and local RCMP.
“According to the 2021 census, 31.6 per cent of qathet Regional District residents are age 65 and older, with an additional 10.4 per cent between the ages of 60 and 64 years of age, totalling approximately 8,945 senior residents.”
Korolek said abuse needs to be understood as a larger social issue. She said individuals who work in the field have been reported as saying they are only seeing the tip of an iceberg in the reported numbers of abuse.
“Therefore, it is likely that we each know a person who has been abused or is currently suffering abuse,” said Korolek. “It’s good to educate the community on knowing the trends of abuse.”
Korolek said if there is suspicion of elder abuse, it is important to report it.
She said what was being asked of mayor and council was a proclamation of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and to encourage all residents to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of seniors.
City councillor Rob Southcott said one of the most profound factors that allows abuse to occur is isolation and being disconnected. He said he was wondering if the CRN has considered encouraging the city to get back into block parties. He said his experience with block parties is they brought communities together and people learned who their neighbours were.
“I’m totally convinced this is the kind of activity that intervenes in situations like that,” added Southcott.
Korolek said she understands block parties are being encouraged and that they are a good idea.
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