Health Canada defines elder abuse as “the physical, psychosocial or financial mistreatment of a senior”. Financial abuse includes the mishandling of an older person’s money or property, and also includes fraud, which is the most common type of abuse at 62.5 per cent. A family member is most often the perpetrator in these cases.
Financial abuse occurs when a person's sense of need, entitlement or greed for the money is greater than their ability to remain fair, honest and caring with a parent or other older adult. Financial abuse is more likely to occur during an older adult’s health crisis or after a major change in health.
In Prince Edward Island, we have Adult Protection, Social Services and the Public Trustee to go to.
When an elder is going through a health crisis and they are being abused financially, none of these departments are mandated as an investigative body for fraud, theft and/or coercion if the senior has not yet been diagnosed with an illness. Getting a diagnosis is not always easy. This time between when an older adult begins to show signs and symptoms of an illness is the “perfect” time for an abuser to take advantage of a parent which can take months or longer.
These abusers prey on vulnerable seniors and parents. Once they strike, it is tragic for the elderly. They can lose everything they have worked for, lose their home, their dignity and they may not want to admit they have been taken advantage of.
Because the abuser(s) are cunning and manipulating, the elderly person turns to them, not believing that a family member has taken everything away from them. The abuser tells them they are helping them, they will make everything better for them. They may turn away from other loving and caring family members because the abuser will do everything in his or her power to make sure they aren’t caught. It is the abuser’s own greed, selfishness and narcissism driving them.
The age cohort with the largest percentage increase over the past 10 years has been for those aged 65 and over. The number of people aged 65 and over on Prince Edward Island was estimated to be 31,957 on July 1, 2020, an increase of 3.3 per cent over 2019. This age group has been increasing steadily since the mid 1990s, with accelerated growth of 2.0 per cent or more per year since 2006. (From Prince Edward Island Statistics Bureau)
As our elderly population grows here in P.E.I., seniors need to be educated on their estate matters, and assistance needs to be provided if they do not have the funds or the capacity to see a lawyer.
We need an advocate for the elderly. We are failing our seniors. The abuse needs to stop whether it is financial, physical or psychosocial.
P.E.I. government, please help our vulnerable seniors. If there is help available, it is not transparent.
Hoping for help for our seniors.
Kim Scott-Dorrington,
Charlottetown
