World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15)

Today, June 15^th, marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, WEAAD provides an opportunity to raise awareness of elder abuse and consequently improving the safety and well-being of seniors.

According to the World Health Organization, elder abuse is defined as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.”

BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) sits on the Council to Reduce Elder Abuse (CREA). CREA (1) promotes and facilitates awareness building and training on elder abuse prevention, recognition and response and (2) galvanizes society to commit, both collectively and individually, to reduce elder abuse and ensure that it is not tolerated in British Columbia.

The Council is made up of representatives from various sectors including finance, policing, health, and law, and sustains its work partly with thanks to financial support provided by the BC Ministry of Health.

This WEAAD, take a moment to educate yourself and learn to recognize signs of elder abuse with the resources linked below. Be sure to also share information with others to help increase awareness within your community.