A local community organization recently received news it has been approved for $47,000 in funding from the provincial government to help address the issue of elder abuse.
Sundre's Greenwood Neighbourhood Place plans to allocate the bulk of the grant on hiring a coordinator to develop a local coordinated community response plan, but some of the funds will also cover administrative costs, said Marita Stermann, the group's executive director, during a recent interview with the Round Up.
Efforts to obtain the funding date back to 2014, when GNP staff submitted an application for a three-year grant, she said.
“We did not get approval for the first year. However, we did (last November) resubmit for years two and three. My feeling then was there was probably not a good chance to receive it with the Alberta budget and cutbacks everywhere,” she said.
“So when I got the call a few weeks ago, that was great news and we are definitely fortunate to be one of 25 communities that were approved. That is significant for Sundre.”
A lot of thought went into the application in terms of planning a strategy and vision for how the funding would be spent to take steps to curb elder abuse, she said.
“For us, it was very clear from the start that without a coordinator in place we could not do anything. We're maxed out with what GNP is doing already.”
So with the approved funding in place, the first step is to hire a coordinator who will come up with a plan as well as determine where there are gaps and room for increasing public awareness regarding elder abuse while outlining future steps, she said.
“To get a better picture, we need to dig a little deeper to come up with an analysis for where we're at.”
But “we're already a fairly functional community — we feel we definitely have a lot of support here to address this.”
Some local partners include the Chinook's Arch Victim Services Society, the Peaks to Prairies Primary Care Network, the Sundre and District Historical Society, as well as Sundre Family and Community Support Services, she said.
“Those are the ones who initially were supporting us, but we will be looking for more partners.”
Part of the process to come up with a plan to combat elder abuse includes finding out more about local cases that are known and how the issue is defined in the community, she said.
“We'll get some clarity once we've put some time into the project to see what we can do to prevent it and address it.”
Awareness of what's happening in the community is key to identifying goals and actionable steps that can be taken to reach those objectives, she said.
“It's going to be a tough issue to address, especially in a small community.”
Elder abuse is considered any action or inaction that jeopardizes the health or well-being of a senior, states the Alberta government's website.
“Elder abuse can take several forms including financial, emotional, physical, sexual, neglect and medication. Often more than one type of abuse occurs at the same time. The two most frequently identified and reported types of elder abuse in Canada are financial and emotional,” it says.
Statistics from the Canadian government indicate that anywhere between four to eight per cent of older adults are likely to experience abuse, but those figures could be much higher as officials believe many cases of elder abuse go unreported. Perpetrators commonly know the victims as well.
“Elder abuse is often committed by someone known to the victim, such as a family member, friend, or caregiver. Approximately 25 per cent of crimes against older adults are committed by family members, usually a spouse or adult child. Abusers can also include friends, neighbours, paid care providers, staff, or any individual in a position of power, trust, or authority,” the site says.
The provincial government recently announced in a press release that 25 seniors' groups, community organizations and municipalities across the province would receive a total of $1.2 million to help address and prevent elder abuse. The grants, announced on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, will be allocated for year two of the three-year, $3-million Taking Action Against Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response program.
“As with all grants, there's a start and finish time,” said Stermann.
“We hope to have someone in place very shortly.”
Anyone concerned that a senior he or she knows is being abused is encouraged to contact GNP at 403-638-1011.
“We have always dealt with any inquiries in regards to this,” as well as other concerns such as domestic and mental issues, she said.
“If people don't know where to go, follow up with us,” she said, adding GNP's consultations are completely confidential.
As for any seniors out there who are worried they're being abused, it's important for them to find someone they trust to talk to, she said.
“An advocate is really helpful. Finding someone you trust would be the first step,” she said, adding such a person can help a senior navigate the system to get information and guidance from a variety of services ranging from the RCMP to a family doctor.
“If you don't know how to get in touch with anyone, we'll help make that connection.”
