Senior abuse and neglect are serious public health matters and one of the most complex functional consequences that affect the vulnerable elderly population. Aging and the Law in Canada (n.d.) states, “Senior abuse is a generic term referring to a wide variety of harms to older adults that are committed by a person or persons they know and would normally have a reason to trust. It is considered different than harm from strangers.”

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Elder abuse has different forms; it is either abuse or neglect. It is intentionally or unintentionally motivated. According to the National Seniors Council established by the Government of Canada (2007), elder abuse has different forms: financial, physical, emotional or psychological, sexual, systemic (e.g., ageism) spiritual, and neglect (either self-self neglect by older adults or by others). Self-neglect describes behaviors of older adults that threaten their health, safety, and overall wellbeing (Hirst et al., 2015).

Elder abuse has become a global concern or problem. It was first recognized in the US, Great Britain, and Canada. While elder abuse awareness has increased, it is now recognized as a major social and health problem and a significant issue of family health violence. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day has been commemorated in countries worldwide on June 15 every year since 2006. The Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) was an initial participant in the launching of the Awareness Day. The estimates of elder abuse worldwide range from 4% to 47%, while these estimates vary because of significant underreporting and the differing definitions (Sooryanarayana et al., 2013).

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There are different factors that abuse and neglect occur. One of the many factors is caregiver burnout. Adult children who are called upon to take care of their elderly parents, some lack the capacity, resources, availability or physical ability, or proximity to handle responsibility successfully. When elder abuse was rooted in caregiver stress, there are services/resources for self-care that can help to reduce caregiver stress and other caregiver concerns:

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• Local Alzheimer Society chapters for support and education groups

• Individual counseling to strengthen coping skills in dealing with caregiver problems

• In-home health care service or day care for respite

References

Aging and the Law in Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.canadianelderlaw.ca/Senior%20Abuse.htm

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Hirst, P. S., Lane, M. A., & Miller, A. C. (2015). Miller’s nursing for wellness in older adults. Wolters Kluwer.

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National Seniors Council. (2007). Report of the National Seniors Council on Elder Abuse. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/nsc-cna/documents/pdf/policy-and-program-development/publications-reports/2007/elder-abuse-report/elder-abuse-report-en.pdf

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Sooryanarayana, R., Choo, W. H., & Hairi, N. N. (2013). A review of prevalence and measurement of elder abuse in the community. Trauma Violence & Abuse, 14(4), 316-325.

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Links for community resources

Socie’te’ Alzheimer Society https://alzda.ca/

Alzheimer Society Hamilton and Health https://www.dementiacarers.ca/program-partners-and-locations/alzheimer-society-hamilton-halton/

NursesWeCare Health www.nurseswecarehealth.com