Elder abuse often unreported, Calgary conference hears

It's a crime that stays in the shadows, often unreported because the perpetrator is a trusted acquaintance or a family member.

While most people look forward to their retirement years, it can also be a challenging time, particularly when there is emotional, financial or even physical abuse involved.

Paul Greenwood, a deputy district attorney from San Diego who heads one of the only elder abuse units in the United States, told a crowd at a Calgary conference that predators look for victims who are unlikely or unable to report the crime.

"That's why we depend on the community to be on the lookout for the red flag of these crimes," he said.

Unreported

Too often outsiders don't get involved, viewing elder abuse as an internal family issue. Greenwood wants to break that cycle and instill the notion that it is everyone's responsibility to protect our seniors.

The conference, Face It: Elder Abuse Happens, is hosted by the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network and Alberta Seniors to help raise awareness in the larger community.

"Our goal is to ensure that the service providers throughout the province are able to address [elder abuse] appropriately within their community so that when people do have the courage to step forward and report suspected cases of elder abuse, that the service providers they're reporting to have the ability to deal with it," said Denine Ritchie with Alberta Seniors.

Cooperation

Greenwood wants to see greater cooperation between law enforcement, financial institutions, hospitals and prosecutors in order to ensure cases don't go unreported and uninvestigated.

The Calgary Police Service has an elder abuse team that works with the Kerby Centre and Calgary Family Services.

Those concerned about a suspected case of abuse can call the elder abuse resource line at 403-705-3250.