It’s OK to say something.
This is the message that will be delivered on March 13 when KUU-US Crisis Services holds its information session on elder abuse at Echo Centre for the Sunshine Club.
You are not alone. There is help whenever you want it, said Elia Nicholson-Nave, executive director of KUU-US. The workshop will provide the signs and symptoms of elder abuse, there will be a question and answer period, and hand-outs will be provided so participants can look over the materials in their own space and in their own time.
“They might go, ‘you know what, that’s happening to me.’ Now I know there is help there,” said Nicholson-Nave.
Victim Services, Tsahaheh BMO and the RCMP Aboriginal Unit are partnering with KUU-US for this event. They will provide information about the types of elder abuse that is seen, including physical, financial, verbal, mental, and sexual abuses.
Elder abuse comes in a number of different forms. “And, unfortunately, what we know is people are suffering at the hands of their own family members some times, so a lot of times they don’t report out of fear, out of shame, and we just want people to know that it doesn’t always have to be reporting to the RCMP,” said Nicholson-Nave.
The Bank of Montreal will provide expert advice on issues around the financial abuse of an elder. This includes taking money without consent (withdrawing money from a family member’s bank account, using their pin code), constant badgering a family member for money, even when they say no, or the abuser keeps coming back for more when the family member has already given money by feeling pressured or bullied into it.
There are two kinds of financial abuses BMO sees in the community, said Tsahaheh BMO branch manager Denise Martineau.
There is stranger abuse.
“We get alerts all the time about current scams that are going on and ways people are being abused by strangers.” The long lost nephew or grandson is an example of such abuse. “If ever anyone is unsure of something like that or if we see somebody taking out a large amount of cash, we have a tendency to start asking extra questions.”
It’s not because the staff at the bank are trying to be nosey, said Martineau. The questions are to protect the customers.
The second type of financial abuse comes from closer to home.
“Sometimes it is somebody (the elder) knows or is close to that is taking advantage of them. So, the things that we might see are unusual patterns again, taking larger amounts of cash than normal. Always being escorted to the bank. Things like that,” Martineau said.
The public fraud is common, but it’s harder to assess the amount of family financial elder abuse that is happening.
The better question, said Elia, is how much is it reported?
“It may occur way more than we are actually aware of,” said Sharon Wutke, assistant branch manager.
“I think people are hesitant to report it. They are vulnerable, scared or embarrassed because it is a family member… Some don’t even know they are being taken advantage of.”
Sometimes it’s a sense of entitlement of the abuser, said Martineau, like they think they are entitled to the money for various reasons.
This is an awareness campaign that says the banks are there for their clients if they need them and they can come in and talk if they have concerns.
“Talk to your bank. We try to be very open and approachable here. And most of the other banks are as well. We can help guide you if you are unsure.”
The RCMP’s role in this is to break the stigma down in reporting, said Nicholson-Nave. Don’t be afraid to report. The aboriginal policing officers can assist in these kinds of things.
“Don’t be afraid to talk to them. They will help guide you through it.”
If you suspect someone is suffering from elder abuse, or you are an elder and feel that you are being abused, help is available.
Thepolice can be called 24 hours at 911 or people can call the 24 hours KUU-US Crisis Support Services at 250-723-4050.
The Sunshine club event, to be held 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 13, is open to club members. Call to register for the event at 720-2505 and provide your name and membership number.
