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B.C. communities ready to offer help on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Elder abuse can be physical, financial, sexual or psychological
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Barb Stevenson, left, Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions and John Douglas prepare to raise a flag for World Elder Abuse Day at city hall in 2019. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15. (Submitted)

Elder abuse and neglect is a worldwide problem and the B.C. Association of Community Response Networks (BCCRN) is spreading the word about the issue and offering help to vulnerable seniors.

Monday, June 15 marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and cities across the province will be hosting various events that day.

The activities are intended to bring greater recognition of abuse and neglect of older adults in B.C. or wherever they live, and to highlight the need for prevention and community involvement in a response to the issue.

This year’s events include care packages and meals being distributed to lonely seniors, bottle drives, webinars and more.

Elder abuse can be physical, financial, sexual or psychological. BCCRN works to give abuse and neglect of seniors a relevance that will sustain and move prevention efforts forward throughout the year and for years to come.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was developed and launched in 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

For a full list of this year’s events in B.C., go to bccrns.ca/weaad2020.

To find a community response network in your community, go to bccrns.ca/search.

READ MORE: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2019

READ MORE: Elder abuse and neglect: If you see something, say or do something

More information:

Seniors Abuse & Information Line (SAIL)

SAIL is a safe place for older adults, and those who care about them, to talk to someone about situations where they feel they are being abused or mistreated, or to receive information about elder abuse prevention. Available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (excluding holidays). Phone: 604-437-1940 or Toll-free: 1-866-437-1940. Language interpretation available Monday to Friday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

BC Seniors Advocate

The Office of the Seniors Advocate monitors and analyzes seniors services and issues in B.C., and makes recommendations to government and service providers to address systemic issues. Toll-free: 1-877-952-3181. Website: www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca.

211 BC

Resources directory in B.C. This service is free, confidential, multilingual, and available 24/7. Phone: Dial 2-1-1 to talk with an information and referral specialist. Website: www.bc211.ca.

Community Care Licensing Office

Contact the Community Care Licensing Office if you are concerned about the health, safety, or well-being of a person in care at a community care facility. Enquiry BC: 1-800-663-7867 (Ask to be connected to your health authority’s Community Care Licensing Office).

Assisted Living Registrar

Protects the health and safety of assisted living residents. Toll-free:1-866-714-3378.

VictimLinkBC

This is a toll-free, confidential and multilingual telephone service available across B.C. and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence. Toll-free: 1-800-563-0808.


 

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