Senior abuse a problem, say 70% of respondents in N.W.T. survey

Seniors in the Northwest Territories are more aware of their rights when it comes to abuse but many still don't know how or where to get help, says a new report.

The report, commissioned by the N.W.T. Network to Prevent Abuse of Older Adults and the N.W.T. Seniors' Society, surveyed 700 adults over the age of 50 in 15 communities in 2014.

Of those surveyed, 70 per cent said older adult abuse is a problem in their community, unchanged from the previous survey in 2010.

"I think it's clear that people are understanding more about abuse," said Barb Hood, executive director of the N.W.T. Seniors Society. "In previous times people didn't ask for help."

The seniors society has offered workshops across the territory, called Creating Safe Communities, to help seniors identify abuse and come up with action plans. Hood says they've also been working with front-line workers and the RCMP.

But Hood said getting people to take action is still a challenge. 

"Older adults often don't want talk about this and get a family member in trouble," she said. "From the research, universally it's usually an adult son who is causing the abuse. Those adult sons are important in the seniors' lives and they don't want those ties severed."

The report's authors found there's no reliable existing data on how many adults are being abused in the Northwest Territories each year.

People surveyed said stealing money — such as pension cheques — was the most common type of abuse, followed by neglect and emotional abuse.

"This is an issue that has been around for many year and for many years we have not talked about it, and not in the North," Hood said. "It's been undercover for a long time."

Legislation unclear

In the 2014 survey, 47 per cent said older adults in their community don't know where to go for help, versus 36 per cent in 2010.

Lois Little, one of the report's authors, said unlike many provinces the N.W.T. doesn't have any legislation specifically for protecting seniors and making it mandatory for caregivers or anyone to report abuse and neglect.

"Everyone knows this is happening and no one is intervening in a meaningful way," she said.

She said many caregivers and service providers say they can't intervene unless they get consent from the senior, or it's a criminal code offence.

"Financial abuse is clearly a criminal code offence," said Little. "If someone is isolated, not being cared for, there's no clear legislation around that area."