On June 15, Brantford will be celebrating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day along with many other global communities.

On May 26, 2014, city council proclaimed that June 15 is “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day” in the City of Brantford. The first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was celebrated in 2006, after the United Nations recognized a need for public discussion surrounding this generally taboo matter.

The World Health Organization [WHO] has outlined that by 2025, the population of people aged 60 and over will have doubled from the numbers in 1995—from 542 million to 1.2 billion. WHO also highlights some statistics from nursing home staff in the United States, stating that, “36% witnessed at least one incident of physical abuse of an elderly patient in the previous year; 10% committed at least one act of physical abuse towards an elderly patient; 40% admitted to psychologically abusing patients.”

With numbers this high, there is little wonder as to why both developed and developing countries have chosen to participate in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to advocate for seniors’ rights.

According to Statistics Canada, Brantford has seen an 8.2% increase in the population aged 65 and over since 2006. With a growing elder population, it is essential to have educational tools and resources accessible to the general public.

The Brant Elder Abuse Committee, with funding from Brant United Way, has created “The Senior’s Toolkit,” a resource that not only defines elder abuse so that it can be prevented, but also provides useful information for seniors to help maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

June is also Seniors’ Month in the City of Brantford, and there are many free activities for seniors to get involved in at the Beckett Adult Community Center.

For more information about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Brantford, and for the Senior’s Toolkit, please click here.