Latest news with #ElderAbuse
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New Mexico officials spread awareness about elder abuse
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) — Sunday was Elder Abuse Awareness Day. State officials are continuing to try and spread the word. Story continues below Trending: New restaurant in Old Town takes over space left by beloved eatery News: New video shows fight before teen was shot and killed in Albuquerque Investigation:KRQE Investigates: Can CYFD finally end kids sleeping in offices? New Mexico News Insiders:The Crew Behind Swift Water & Arroyo Rescues In the last year, adult protective services has investigated over 6,400 cases of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation in New Mexico. According to Adult Protective Services Director Corey Roybal, these numbers are fairly common. These are some signs he says you can watch out for. 'Scratches and cuts. Bruises and burns that can't be explained in our elderly population. Change in behavior,' Roybal explained. 'Nutrition, dehydration, over or under medicating… those are signs of neglect… Exploitation is another thing that we want to make people aware of. Just the unjust or inappropriate use of adult's money.' Elder abuse or neglect can be reported online or by calling 1-866-654-3219. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
B.C. seniors advocate sounding alarm about increase in elder abuse
Elder abuse is on the rise, despite many incidents going unreported. Dick Pollard was jamming with his friends at James Bay New Horizons, a seniors' community centre in Victoria, on Thursday. He says making music with his friends is key to his wellbeing. 'It means everything to me,' the senior said. He's a regular at the community centre, which features all kinds of activities, including dancing and free weekly groceries to help those on a fixed income and those battling isolation. Anne Logie is a widow with no kids. She calls staff and members her family, and says the sense of community helps others who could be hurting. 'If someone is an abusive situation, they can come here and get help,' she said. Elder abuse has been on a disturbing increase in B.C. since 2019, in all its forms – emotional, psychological, sexual, physical and financial. 'Calls related to abuse increased by 92 per cent in that period,' said Dan Levitt, the B.C. Seniors Advocate Thursday, as he held a press conference ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Sunday. Levitt wants to shine a light on the problem and its prevalence, noting violent offences against seniors reported to the RCMP increased 18 per cent between 2019 and 2023, and reports of financial abuse to Vancouver police increased by 67 per cent in that time. Sadly, those escalating numbers likely underestimate the problem. Some seniors are reluctant to report abuse, fearing reprisal or ridicule, says Levitt. 'Because we feel embarrassed, we feel shame that we were subject to abuse of any kind,' he noted. The pandemic – and the isolation that came with it – may partly explain the increase in abuse of vulnerable seniors, says Levitt, who adds for seniors facing a suspected scam, they should take a deep breath and not give out their personal data. He says family or friends of seniors are encouraged to looks for signs of behavioural changes, including withdrawal, and if they suspect abuse, they ae encouraged to call a seniors society, police or the seniors advocate.
Malay Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Senior Citizens Bill crucial as Malaysia nears aged nation status, says Malaysian Bar
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — The Malaysian Bar has urged the government to urgently table the Senior Citizens Bill, stressing the need for a comprehensive legal framework to protect the country's growing elderly population. With Malaysia projected to become an aged nation by 2040 — when 14.5 per cent of the population will be aged 65 and above — the Bar said this demographic shift demands legal safeguards to ensure the welfare and dignity of senior citizens. 'We commend the government's reported progress on the Senior Citizens Bill and hope that our analysis will be considered in the final draft,' the Bar wrote in a statement today, referencing efforts by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to finalise the legislation. The Bar highlighted that 58 per cent of 54-year-old Employees Provident Fund contributors have less than RM100,000 in savings, far short of the RM240,000 benchmark needed to sustain a RM1,000 monthly income for two decades after retirement. It also applauded the government's move to consider raising the retirement age to 65, which would allow willing and able seniors to continue contributing to the workforce. In its recommendations, the Bar called for codified legal rights for the elderly, mechanisms to address elder abuse, the creation of a national oversight body, expanded community-based care, and improved access to legal and financial aid. The Bar further emphasised the need for mandatory licensing and regulation of care homes, noting that only 393 of these facilities are registered, with over 700 believed to be operating without oversight. It also stressed the importance of addressing mental health and social inclusion, and advocated for the use of gerontechnology — such as telehealth services and wearable health devices — to improve elderly care. The Bar cited best practices in Canada and South Korea, where comprehensive legal frameworks have improved the wellbeing and dignity of senior citizens, and expressed readiness to contribute legal expertise to strengthen the proposed legislation.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- CTV News
Raising a flag and awareness about elder abuse
Elder Abuse Awareness Day is Saturday. On Wednesday morning in Sudbury, there was a proclamation recognizing the day and a flag raising at city hall. 'It's not just the conditions that they are living in. It could be family that is abusing their families,' said Barb Nott, chair of the older adult advisory panel. Deputy Mayor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann was on hand to officially proclaim June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day. 'To me it's incomprehensible and it's unacceptable of course,' Landry-Altmann said. 'So I guess that is part of the flag raising is just to raise the awareness that you are not alone.' Greater Sudbury Police said forms of criminality linked to elder abuse are taken very seriously and investigated. 'If there is an assault, if someone is being pushed, threatened, coerced into signing documents or anything like that, that becomes a criminal offence and in those instances certainly police should be contacted,' said Lise Landry, Greater Sudbury Police senior liaison. Leuschen Transportation was recognized for its cooperative effort with local grocery stores to bus older adults for free from various seniors residences to get their essentials. 'Bringing seniors to get their groceries and allowing them that safety and conscientious mind to get to and from the grocery store in an effective way,' said Stephane Grenier, Leuschen Transportation public relations co-ordinator. Organizers of the flag raising and proclamation said they hope it fosters a better understanding of elder abuse and neglect and of the respect and dignity older adults deserve.
