Publication studies elderly victims

HOWARD PATCH, chair of the
Seniors’ Advisory Council, recent-
ly released a position Paper devel-
oped by the Seniors’ Advisory
Council entitled A Delicate
Balance: Assisting Elderly Victims
of Abuse and Neglect.

“*The Seniors’ Advisory Council
believes that abuse or neglect of
elderly persons is unacceptable
and that every effort must be

Be careful

with words

THE FAMILIAR childhood
rhyme goes ‘‘Sticks and stones
may break my bones, but words
will never hurt me.’ Unfortu-
nately, it’s not true.

Careless comments can wound
more deeply than the sharpest
knife. Thoughtless words can ruin
relationships with friends, family
members and co-workers.

If you need help to put a leash
on your lip, read the following
tips:

@ Don’t deceive or be dishonest
in the things you say. Get out of
the habit of stretching the truth or
adding details just to make things
sound more interesting. Make sure
that you only tell the truth. And
even then, remember that honesty
should not be used as an excuse
for saying hurtful things.

@ Avoid commenting on situa-
tions that might embarrass some-
one else or on personal cir-
cumstances another person cannot
change. For example, it does no
good to comment on people’s
- height. or. the size of their feet.
‘, They can’t change it, and your
~ remark could hurt their feelings.

@ Be careful about teasing. Teas-

ing can start out to be funny, but

if it goes too far it can turn to

“hurt. It’s fun to laugh and. talk
together, but don’t fet it be at”

someone's expense.

@ Be sparing with sarcasm. . Sar-
- gastic remarks may leap into your
‘mind, but.what starts out as clev-
“erness can quickly turn to
rudeness.

@ Kick: ‘the gossip habit. If the
nformation you're repeating is

nly speculation, or if you
wouldn't feel good about saying it
“to the face of. the person involved,
then choose not to pass it on.

“Gossip. can ruin @ reputation, kill #

a‘ relationship, or change the

“course of a life.

EQR ANY MAKE OR
MODEL PLEASE CALL

AMBLESIDE AUTO
SALES & LEASE
§25-323

_OR CELLULAR 351-1958 _f

made to eliminate this deviant
behavior from our society."” Patch
said.

“Elder abuse is not a new phe-
nomenon; however, it has only
recently come.to the public’s at-
tention as another complex
dimension of domestic violence
along with child abuse and
spousal abuse.’’

Most definitions of elder abuse
include physical, sexual,
psychological, financial and
medication abuse and isolation of
human rights. ‘‘The distinguishing
feature of such abuse situations is
an ongoing trust relationship and
dependency between the abused
and the abuser,’’ Patch said.

The Seniors’ Advisory Council
was established under the Seniors
Advisory Council Act in June
1989, to advise the minister of
health and minister responsible for
seniors on current and future
issues of concern to seniors of the
province.

The council provides a means of
communication between seniors
and the government of British
Columbia.

Early in $991, council identified
abuse and neglect of elderly peo-
ple as a priority and established a
task force to examine the issue
more closely. The members of the

Elder Abuse Task Force are:
Herman Griemann, chair; Murray
Mawhinney; Willy Olesen; Gil
Seabrook; and Mish Vadasz.
Council unanimously endorsed
a position recommended by the
task force on elder abuse and ne-
glect that includes the need for:
acceptance of a provincial defini-
tion; additional research on in-
cidence and prevalence; interven-
tion strategies that consider an
adult’s right ta self-determination
and society's obligation to protect;
additional public education and
prevention initiatives;‘ training for

workers who deal with seniors; jf

and government support and en-
couragement to communities to
develop elder abuse protocols.

“Council hopes that this paper
and the position it outlines will
contribute to the discussions about
elder abuse and encourage policy
makers, service providers, and
seniors to take the steps necessary
to ensure that all elderly people
live in safety and security,"’ Petch
said.

Copies of A Delicate Balance:
Assisting Elderly Victims of Abuse
and Neglect are avaiiabic from the
Seniors’ Advisory Council, c/o
Office for Seniors, 6th floor, 1515
Blanshard St., Victoria, B.C.
V8W 3C8, phone (604) 387-2292.

Sunday, October 18, 1992 - North Shore News - 43

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