Today, June 15th, marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, WEAAD provides an opportunity to raise awareness of elder abuse and consequently improving the safety and well-being of seniors.
According to the World Health Organization, elder abuse is defined 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.”
BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) sits on the Council to Reduce Elder Abuse (CREA). CREA (1) promotes and facilitates awareness building and training on elder abuse prevention, recognition and response and (2) galvanizes society to commit, both collectively and individually, to reduce elder abuse and ensure that it is not tolerated in British Columbia.
The Council is made up of representatives from various sectors including finance, policing, health, and law, and sustains its work partly with thanks to financial support provided by the BC Ministry of Health.
This WEAAD, take a moment to educate yourself and learn to recognize signs of elder abuse with the resources linked below. Be sure to also share information with your loved ones to help increase awareness within your community.
Resources
Canadian Centre for Elder Law’s Practical Guide to Elder Abuse and Neglect Law
BC Association of Community Response Networks’ Information and Resources
Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse’s British Columbia Resources
National WEAAD Virtual Event – Thursday, June 15th, 2023 at 10:00 AM PST