Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross, minister responsible for seniors, today recognized Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Manitoba at an event held at the RCMP headquarters in Winnipeg.  

 

“Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an appropriate time to promote respectful intergenerational relationships,” said Irvin-Ross.  “In order to develop more age-friendly communities in Manitoba, we must all recognize that elder abuse happens and work together to develop solutions to address it.”

 

The objective of Elder Abuse Awareness Day, recognized today in Manitoba and internationally on June 15, is to raise awareness of elder abuse throughout the world and show support for prevention initiatives.  The theme for the day is My World…Your World…Our World – Free of Elder Abuse.  The provincial seniors strategy Advancing Age: Promoting Older Manitobans recognizes that elder abuse is a significant issue for older adults and identifies safety and security as essential goals.

 

Manitoba’s elder abuse strategy, supported by the Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat, includes an elder abuse consultant, a provincial toll-free seniors abuse line, a seniors abuse line co-ordinator, education and awareness initiatives, the development of community based networks and funding to community partners including Age & Opportunity, which provide support services for older adults affected by this issue. 

 

“The RCMP is pleased to support and host provincial recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.  As a national police service, we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of older adults living in our communities,” said Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson, commanding officer of RCMP “D” Division. “Here in “D” Division, the RCMP is directly involved in promoting awareness through the Girl Guides of Canada Police Partnership Badge Series and the Police Academy – Older Adult Division. We are also committed to participating in the Manitoba Elder Abuse Conference in October.”

 

The Province of Manitoba has developed the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative to support seniors in leading active, socially-engaged, independent lives that contribute to healthy aging.  Working together with communities to enhance many programs and services that benefit seniors will improve the health, independence and well-being of all Manitoba seniors, Irvin-Ross said.  The goal is to make Manitoba the most age-friendly province in Canada.