Elder abuse strikes all segments of society.
But with First Nations populations growing rapidly in Thunder Bay, police are starting to notice more incidents within the Aboriginal community.
Rather than deal with the aftermath, Thunder Bay Police Service has taken the proactive route, producing a multi-lingual video to help First Nation men and women learn to spot the signs of abuse and point them where to turn when it happens.
Det. Const. Diane MacLaurin, who heads a one-person, crimes against senior division, said the video was important step, created to fill gaps not already being addressed.
“Now that there are more people moving into the city, or people that are coming to visit in the city that are of First Nations or Aboriginal descent, we’re finding they don’t have a lot of information sometimes about elder abuse or what constitutes elder abuse.”
Abuse can take many forms, MacLaurin said, introducing the 10-minute video, narrated in both English and Ojibway.
While physical and sexual abuse are the most well-known types, there are plenty of other ways seniors can be abused.
Financial abuse, by either family members, friends or even strangers is the most common form, MacLaurin said.
“The sexual and the physical abuse don’t get reported that much,” she added, either by choice or they are less frequent in nature. Often the victim knows their abuser.
“What we’re trying to do is prevent things from happening and to educate people on things they don’t know about abuse.”
When first approached to narrate the video, elder Ma-Nee Chacaby’s first thought was to decline the offer.
But she changed her mind after mulling it over for a while.
“I really wanted to do this for the people who I’ve seen this happen to,” she said.
The video and accompanying pamphlets, available also in Cree and Ojicree, will be available at community service agencies throughout the region.
Chacaby said it’s important to stop elder abuse, whether perpetrated against Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal seniors, in its tracks.
“Anywhere in your neighbourhood, if you see something going on, say something. Don’t hold back,” she said.
