Williams Lake Seniors Activity Centre is hosting a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
For all adults in the community, the event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. is aimed at stopping elder abuse and neglect, which includes online safety and security such as education around email and phone scams.
“Come out and help us make Williams Lake a shining example of how to keep its most vulnerable people safe and secure,” said Eva Navrot, seniors advocate.
According to Ministry of Health documents, approximately 10 per cent of seniors will experience some form of physical, emotional, financial or sexual abuse. The documents also note seniors abuse is likely significantly underreported.
According to the World Health Organization, one in two people are prejudiced against older people. A Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability report found women between 55 and 64 years old comprised the largest proportion of victims of femicide, which is defined as an intentional killing of a woman with a gender-related motivation.
At the event there will be information available from the local seniors advocate, from Canadian Mental Health Association, from the Women’s Contact Society, and from emergency support services. The event is sponsored by the BC Association of Community Response Networks and there will be free coffee and treats available.
Jeanine Leduc has been helping Navrot out with event organizing and many other aspects of her advocacy work since April 12, as a practicum for her Education Assistant and Community Support Certificate at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Williams Lake. Leduc said the experience has been “just amazing” working with Navrot and the seniors. She said she felt “very honoured to have done this work with Eva.” Leduc helped organize the showing of the film “Age of Love” about seniors speed dating in May, which got an amazing response from the community, according to Navrot and they hope to do more events inspired by it to help alleviate isolation which can occur in seniors.
READ MORE: City to create walkways, more accessible parking at Williams Lake Seniors Activity Centre
Do you have a comment about this story? email:
ruth.lloyd@wltribune.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.