B.C. invests in preventing senior abuse, raising awareness and training
Posted August 4, 2023 6:09 pm.
The B.C. government says it is helping to protect seniors from abuse and neglect by helping raise awareness in communities across the province.
In a news release from the Ministry of Health, it explains $4.2 million is going to the BC Association of Community Response Networks (BC CRN) in the form of a grant.
CRNs help bring seniors and representatives together “to create a coordinated community response to abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults, as well as spread awareness of elder abuse through local learning events, newsletters, informational workshops, projects, conferences, a robust website, and referrals.”
The funding will support networks throughout the province over the next three years.
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The Council to Reduce Elder Abuse (CREA) is also receiving $300,000 that will go toward, in part, raising public awareness and recognition.
There are over 85 CRNs in more than 250 communities in the province.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix says seniors can often be isolated, “which makes them more vulnerable to abuse.”
“That’s why helping people recognize the signs of elder abuse and prevent the distress it causes our seniors across the province is a top priority for our government, and we are looking forward to continuing to partner with the BC CRN and CREA on this important work,” he said.
“Seniors are vital to our society and it’s important that we treat them with the care and respect they deserve.”
Harwinder Sandhu, the parliamentary secretary for seniors’ services and long-term care, says that combatting abuse begins with prevention.
“It’s our responsibility to ensure seniors are protected now and in the future. Our partnership with the BC CRN will support awareness programs so that people in B.C. can better identify the signs of abuse and neglect, and prevent it altogether, to ensure seniors’ safety,” he said.
According to a national prevalence study, the province says about 8 per cent of seniors in B.C. experience some form of abuse.
