Prevent abuse by promoting kindness and respect
This year, on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Réseau FADOQ wants to remind you that the key to preventing elder abuse at its source is to promote the dignity and respect of older adults.
“As a society, we must strive to ensure the well-being, dignity, self-fulfillment, self-esteem, inclusion and safety of seniors. We can prevent abuse by practising kindness,” stresses Réseau FADOQ president Gisèle Tassé-Goodman, who wears the purple ribbon to mark the day.
Réseau FADOQ promotes and encourages caring and respect, notably through programs such as “In the Shoes of an Older Person” and “Senior-Aware“.
The fight has not yet been won
On this June 15, it’s important to remember that we must continue to fight elder abuse. In Québec, in 2019, nearly 80,000 people aged 65 and over had experienced at least one form of abuse (physical, psychological, financial, neglect) in the past 12 months.
In 2022, Réseau FADOQ mobilized to improve the elder abuse law by adding measures such as criminal penalties for abusers and mandatory reporting by caregivers.
We urge anyone who feels they are a victim of abuse to report the situation, especially by calling the Elder Mistreatment Helpline (Ligne Aide Maltraitance Adultes Aînés) at 1-888-489-2287.
Ageism is a complex social problem
The public also needs to be made aware of another, more insidious form of abuse: ageism.
Ageism is a complex and pervasive social problem that takes many forms. One in two people is prejudiced against seniors.
This is why Réseau FADOQ has joined the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA), a national movement for social change aimed at combating ageism among seniors, while protecting and strengthening their human rights.
