Elder Abuse is prevalent in our society and it can happen anywhere in any culture. June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and to mark this day, MOSAIC hosted a community event on “Age-friendly communities and Elder Abuse”. The event was sponsored by Vancouver Grandview Woodlands Community Response Network (VGWCRN) to increase awareness in its community. The event had close to 80 attendees, including participants from MOSAIC Seniors Club, Britannia Community Resources Centre and Kiwassa Neigbourhood House.A speaker from Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of BC (COSCO) highlighted various types of elder abuse and where they can find resources and seek help in the Metro Vancouver area. Seniors had the opportunity to ask questions and learn the different signs of abuse – emotional, physical, sexual, economic and social. The event also discussed how the systemic, intergenerational and cultural challenges and barriers contributed to Elder Abuse. There were also language support volunteers on hand which helped in bringing the message home.As part of the collaborative project to increase awareness and accessibility to services when seniors need help , VGWCRN also published a Resource Card with a directory of service providers in the Grandview-Woodlands. It was distributed at the event along with a Seniors Guide book and informational kit on Elder Abuse Prevention in BC. You may wish to download a copy of the resource card by clicking here.
