B.C. seniors advocate sounding alarm about increase in elder abuse

Elder abuse is on the rise, despite many incidents going unreported.

Dick Pollard was jamming with his friends at James Bay New Horizons, a seniors’ community centre in Victoria, on Thursday.

He says making music with his friends is key to his wellbeing.

“It means everything to me,” the senior said.

He’s a regular at the community centre, which features all kinds of activities, including dancing and free weekly groceries to help those on a fixed income and those battling isolation.

Anne Logie is a widow with no kids. She calls staff and members her family, and says the sense of community helps others who could be hurting.

“If someone is an abusive situation, they can come here and get help,” she said.

Elder abuse has been on a disturbing increase in B.C. since 2019, in all its forms – emotional, psychological, sexual, physical and financial.

“Calls related to abuse increased by 92 per cent in that period,” said Dan Levitt, the B.C. Seniors Advocate Thursday, as he held a press conference ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Sunday.

Levitt wants to shine a light on the problem and its prevalence, noting violent offences against seniors reported to the RCMP increased 18 per cent between 2019 and 2023, and reports of financial abuse to Vancouver police increased by 67 per cent in that time.

Sadly, those escalating numbers likely underestimate the problem. Some seniors are reluctant to report abuse, fearing reprisal or ridicule, says Levitt.

“Because we feel embarrassed, we feel shame that we were subject to abuse of any kind,” he noted.

The pandemic – and the isolation that came with it – may partly explain the increase in abuse of vulnerable seniors, says Levitt, who adds for seniors facing a suspected scam, they should take a deep breath and not give out their personal data.

He says family or friends of seniors are encouraged to looks for signs of behavioural changes, including withdrawal, and if they suspect abuse, they ae encouraged to call a seniors society, police or the seniors advocate.