Elder Abuse - Abusing the Elderly is a Crime

Increasing Number of Seniors are Vulnerable to Physical Abuse

Jul 31, 2009 Karen Stephenson

Canada's aging population is putting pressure on family members to become caregivers. The fear of increasing abuse is real as families experience added stress.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadians over 65 years of age will outnumber those under 15 years of age by 2015. This shift will put pressure on families to care for their parents and abuse of elderly individuals is a growing concern. On their website, Toronto Police Services says an increasing senior population and their reliance on caregivers to maintain a level of independence, places many in a vulnerable position.

Physical Abuse Statistics

The following statistics are quoted from Family and Violence, 2007, published by Statistics Canada:

• In 2005, there were 160 violent incidents for every 100,000 seniors.
• The overall rate of police-reported violence against seniors increased 20% between 1998 and 2005.
• Men are more likely than women to be victims of a violent act. In 2005, senior men experienced rates of violent acts 1.5 times higher than senior women.
• When a family member was the perpetrator, rates of violence were higher toward senior women.
• According to police data, rates of violence towards seniors were highest when the accused was an adult child.

Physical Indicators

Unexplained injuries or injuries that if explained, don't seem possible, are warning indicators and need to be addressed. Knowing what to look for is important to help a senior who may be suffering abuse. Some signs include:

• Sprains, dislocations, fractures or broken bones.
• Burns from any source, especially from cigarettes.
• Abrasions anywhere on the body that resemble rope or strap marks.
• Bruises - these types of bruises are rarely accidental: bilateral bruising to the arms (may indicate that the person has been shaken or grabbed); bilateral bruising of the inner thighs (may indicate sexual abuse); multicolored bruises indicating they were sustained over time.

Behavioral Indicators

There are many behaviors that may indicate physical abuse. A family member may offer a reason for an injury different to what the senior stated. The family member may take the senior to various medical facilities to prevent medical staff from observing patterns. The victim may become quiet, nervous, withdrawn or demonstrate behaviors that are questionable.

Public Awareness

According to recent public opinion research on elder abuse, the Canadian government reports that 96% of Canadians feel that abuse experienced by seniors is hidden. Canada's national advertising campaign, Elder Abuse – It’s Time To Face The Reality, focuses on creating awareness and targets television, print advertisements as well as the Internet.

Community agencies and many police services encourage the reporting of suspected abuse to ensure that all complaints are fully investigated in a timely manner. The more people who get involved, the better the chances of having the perpetrators brought to justice.

Further Resources:

Senior Citizen's Bureau

Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes

The copyright of the article Elder Abuse - Abusing the Elderly is a Crime in Abuse is owned by Karen Stephenson. Permission to republish Elder Abuse - Abusing the Elderly is a Crime in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Elder Abuse is a Crime

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