Money often the root of edler abuse

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

Marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15 is a gloomy prospect, but the issues it addresses are real.

Kings County RCMP senior safety coordinator Michelle Parker wants county seniors to come out and socialize, get some information on elder abuse issues and find out what resources are available at a June 11 information session and lunch in Berwick.

She’s focusing on a morning talk with Berwick lawyer Eric Sturk on wills and powers of attorney. “The most commonly reported abuse of seniors is financial and, of that, it’s mostly about power of attorney,” she says. “People get one, sign it and they don’t know what it means.”

Abuse happens when people “think” they know what’s right for a senior: they “hold” money for safe-keeping, or seniors are left without the freedom to even get their hair done or go out for lunch.

And abuse most often happens when there’s a personal relationship, and seniors may not know they’re being taken advantage of, or their son may be the only one to get them to the store once a week and they don’t want to jeopardize that,” Parker says.

Sturk’s session will have lots of opportunity for questions, Parker says, and the lunch afterwards will be a chance for seniors to relax and socialize.

She’ll review some of her own program’s safety projects, and will promote the provincial senior abuse line as a place to call confidentially for advice or someone to talk to (1-877-833-3377).