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Shattering the Silence of Senior Abuse

NCJ Number
155711
Journal
RCMP Gazette Volume: 57 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1995) Pages: 16-20
Author(s)
C Fox
Date Published
1995
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Despite the silence surrounding it, the problem of elder abuse in Canada is increasing and may involve up to 4 percent of the country's senior citizens.
Abstract
In response, one local police department and the community hospital have developed an educational program and police response protocol to train officers in handling cases of elder abuse. Elder abuse can take the forms of physical abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse, and passive or active neglect. The three primary principles of police intervention include recognition, responsibility, and response. Early identification leads to early intervention; this process can be facilitated through the establishment of an interagency consultation service. In this community, the service consists of a core committee, resource group of agencies, and family violence committee. 5 references