Introduction
The following statistics were collected in 2012, in the Edmonton area, by the Elder Abuse Intervention Team.
Types of Elder Abuse
Financial (61%)
- Misuse of the elder’s funds or property through fraud or trickery, manipulation, repetitious begging, stealing, misuse of debit/credit cards and joint accounts.
Emotional/Psychological (54%)
- Takes the form of verbal aggression, humiliation, intimidation, isolation, name calling, blaming, belittling, manipulation, threatening, controlling behavior, withholding love.
Physical (20%)
- Physical force causing discomfort or injury– slapping, shaking, punching, pushing, failure to provide adequate health care, and causing property damage, throwing objects causing injury, assault with a weapon.
Sexual (1%)
- Unwanted forms of sexual activity or behaviors – fondling, verbal/suggestive behaviors, lack of personal privacy, unnecessary help with dressing/hygiene, sexual intercourse with an elder unable to give consent, beign forced to perform degrading acts.
Neglect (13%)
- Intentional or unintentional failure to provide for the elder’s needs. Denial of social contact, abandonment
- Failure to provide:
- safe/warm place to live
- personal hygiene
- proper food/clean clothing
- services to meet senior’s necessities of life
- aids to daily living – hearing aids, mobility aids, bath aids
- medical attention to injuries, infections, bed sores or routine appintments
Medication (2%)
- Misuse of medications or prescriptions
- Withholding/non-compliance with refills
- Overmedicating/sedation
What You Should Know
Factors in Abuse…
- History of spousal abuse - a continuation of domestic violence
- Family dynamics - if family interactions were unhealthy in early life or if an abused child becomes a primary caregiver
- Isolation - elder becomes isolated due to physical and/or mental illness or loss of friends and/or family – makes it easier for abuser to exploit elder
- Inability to cope - due to the stress of long-term caregiving out of a sense of duty or pressure
- Senior exhibits poor interpersonal skills (inability to say “no”)
Barriers to Disclosure:
- Fear, shame, guilt
- Hopelessness/loneliness, feelings of helplessness
- Love of abuser
- Medication disability/mental impairment
- Language or cultural difference
- Inappropriate medication
- Unaware of social services, law enforcement, and community support services available
- Acceptance of abuse as normal
What Are Clues?
Any of the following might be a clue that abuse is happening.
In the case of emotional abuse:
- Elder may seem frightened, withdrawn, depressed or apathetic, nervous, scared, low self-esteem, crying, anxiety
- Often reports or witnesses yelling, name calling, inability to make contact with the senior, repetitious statements/theats

In the case of physical abuse:
- Unusual marks/injuries that do not correlate with the story
- Indication of weapon used, marks in unusual places (on the trunk of body including head, back, stomach, between toes, buttocks)
- Senior may display fear, shame, pain, confusion (head injury), mood changes including depression and anxiety
In the case of sexual abuse:
- Bruising/pain around genitalia
- Fear of being touches
- Crying of other changes in mood including depression or anxiety
- Shame, fear
In the case of financial abuse:
- Unexplained sale of property
- Items missing from the home (and money)
- Someone else cashing pension cheques
- Bank account over-drawn
- Unexplained transactions of seniors account
- Excessive money giving, large withdrawls
- Sudden changes to Wills, Land Titles, Assets, Power of Attorney documents
- Elder maybe stressed, confused, have anxiety
In the case of neglect:
- Decreased social contact
- Abandonment
- Seems groggy or alterned consciousness
- Seems thin or appears to have lost a lot of weight
- Wearing dirty clothes or inappropriate closes for the season
- Not having aids to daily living (dentures, mobility aids, glasses, etc)
- Obvious medical issue not being attended to
What can you do?
Who might the elder report abuse to…
- Family members
- Friend or neighbor
- Healthcare worker
- Service provider (in-home or facility)
- Program staff
- Faith leader
- Social worker
- Police
- Any supportive person that is trusted
- Elder Abuse experts
Express concern for senior’s safety and offer to link to help when…
- An elder discloses information or a suspicious statement is made
- Injuries or events are reported or witnessed that don’t match explanations
Support the senior in getting help with… (Note: Linking to help may break the cycle of abuse and the senior can have a say in what they want done about the abuse).
- Safety plan
- Finding resources/referrals
Alert someone who can help with elder abuse concerns such as
- Police
- Elder Abuse Resource and Supports (EARS) – EARS links high risk cases to the Elder Abuse Intervention Team (EAIT)
- Facility management
NOTE: If the matter is an emergency call 911 and ask for immediate police or medical assistance.
Resources
Elder Abuse Services for Edmonton
Edmonton City Police (non-emergency number) 780-423-4567
Elder Abuse Edmonton Police Service Constable 780-496-871 (criminal concerns)
Elder Abuse Resource and Supports 780-477-2929 extension 1
(also receives high risk referrals for the Elder
Abuse Intervention Team (EAIT)
Family Violence Information Line 780-310-1818 (toll-free 24/7)
Police and Crisis Team (mental health) 780-482-0222
(Police and RN/RPN or Social Worker)
Seniors Abuse Helpline (24 hr support line) 780-454-8888
Office of the Public Guardian 780-422-1868
Office of the Public Trustee 780-427-2744
Protection of Persons in Care Act (PPICA) 1-888-357-9339
SAFE Senior Safe House 780-702-1520 extension #3
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network
(Supports outside of Edmonton)
Other Related Resources
Directory of Seniors Services Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton
(any community service related to seniors)\
Directory of Community Services www.211Edmonton.info
(link to any social service)
Alberta Health – Seniors
(general information, Alberta seniors benefit, Protection for Persons in Care, OPT,OPG, etc)
Community Services (City of Edmonton) 780-497-4777 (assistance line)
Book:
“Elder Abuse – What is it? What can be done about it?” – by Community Action committee on Elder Abuse
Oak-Net – Older Adult NKowledge Network (information about Canadian Law)