Government of Canada Marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 15, 2011) – The Government of Canada is joining countries around the world to collectively speak out against elder abuse and mark today as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

“Elder abuse is happening in communities across Canada. It takes many different forms, such as financial exploitation, physical and emotional abuse, and neglect,” said the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors). “Regardless of the type of elder abuse, it happens far too often.”

“Any form of abuse is unacceptable and should not be tolerated,” added Minister Wong. “We need to create an environment where people will take action against this serious issue.”

Building on the momentum created through the Federal Elder Abuse Initiative, which featured an awareness campaign, the Government of Canada remains active in addressing elder abuse through the New Horizons for Seniors Program. Budget 2011 provides $10 million over two years to increase funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program. A call for proposals under the program is expected to launch soon. Elder abuse awareness will be included as a funding objective.

The Government of Canada is furthering its commitment to address elder abuse, as the recent Speech from the Throne proposed.

To learn more about the Government of Canada’s initiatives to increase awareness of elder abuse visit, www.seniors.gc.ca or call 1 800 O-Canada to order a brochure.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

Backgrounder

On June 15th, countries around the world mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). WEAAD was first declared in 2006 by the World Health Organization and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) to bring attention to the abuse and neglect that older adults experience.

In Budget 2008, the $13 million Federal Elder Abuse Initiative (FEAI) was launched to provide a focused and coordinated federal approach to combat elder abuse by raising awareness and developing resource materials for front-line professionals who provide support and services to seniors. The FEAI successfully concluded on March 31, 2011. The three-year interdepartmental program was led by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and operated in partnership with the Department of Justice, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The Government of Canada continues to support elder abuse prevention through the New Horizons for Seniors Program and national and regional projects to raise awareness and combat elder abuse and by improving the knowledge of elder abuse and neglect in Canada.

The Government of Canada is working hard to help improve the lives of seniors on many fronts. These efforts include:

• providing Canadians with an estimated $72 billion this year through Canada’s public pension system, including the Budget 2011 proposed increase to the Guaranteed Income Supplement for Canada’s lowest-income seniors;
• providing $2.3 billion annually in additional tax relief to seniors and pensioners through measures such as pension income splitting and increasing the Age Credit;
• providing $400 million over two years under Canada’s Economic Action Plan for the construction of housing units for low-income seniors;
• appointing a Minister of State (Seniors)—someone who can bring the concerns of older Canadians to the Cabinet table and stand up on their behalf;
• establishing October 1st as National Seniors Day to recognize the significant and ongoing contributions seniors make to families, communities, workplaces and society; and
• creating the National Seniors Council in 2007 to provide advice to the federal government on matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors.

For more information on the Government of Canada’s seniors initiatives visit www.seniors.gc.ca or contact 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). For people using a teletypewriter device (TTY), call 1-800-926-91 05.

Filed under: News, Seniors