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SCHROEDTER« «Four out of every hundred people over the age of 60 will suffer some type of abuse in their senior years, but in many cases the suffering goes unnoticed.Margaret Gutknecht, resource co-ordinator for Living Indepen dence for Elders, an Ashem-based seniors’ support group, said seniors are subject to several types of abuse which occur in ev ery level of society.To prevent abuse of the elderly the public needs to be aware that it does happen and acknowledge it happens in our community,” Gutknecht said adding that many people do not want to admit something like this is happening in their community.Elderly people are subject to hysical and psychological abuse ut the most prevalent is financial buse,” Gutknecht said.She defines financial abuse of hie elderly as, “anytime someone ses an elderly person’s assets or noney without that person’s per-lission.”i iI 4There are no special laws p mg seniors from this typemanyevenknow it is happening because of fear and shame,” Gutknecht said.“We are talking about people who are capable of thinking for themselves but they allow the abuse to go on because in one way or another the elderly person believes they are dependent onthe abuser.“They are afraid because theabuser may threaten them saying ‘if you say something about this we’ll put you away.’ They are ashamed because it is hard to admit that your son or daughter would treat you this way,” she explained, adding that in manycases the abuser is dependent on the elderly person’s money for income.She urged the adult children of seniors to talk to their parents in cases where looking after the parents and helping them was running into costs, but stressed that taking money without permissionis being abusive.“The children need to sit down with their parents and explain that there is a cost in helping. If the parent refuses to pay for the cost then the children have a right to put their family and themselvesfirst.”confront the situation rather “than letting it degenerate into an abusive situation.”Not a glamorous causeAbuse of the elderly has not received much media attention and not many people know what the signs of abuse are in the case of the elderly.“You can spot financial abuse by noticing signs like missing personal belongings, lack of proper clothing, unpaid bills and unusual activities in bank transac-“ , i# J thev She added that it is far betterthing to stop it even u tney*. v5 *■ 1tions,” Gutknecht said.Physical abuse is easier to identify, the warning signs include cuts and bruises, broken bones, and welts.“Physical abuse also includes over-medication and withholding medication and food or forcingseniors to live in unsanitary con ditions,” Gutknecht added Physical, psychological and financial abuses are often linked in the case of seniors. In many cases the abuser will keep the victim isolated or prevent the victim from having private conversations with other people to keep theabuse a secret.Gutknecht warns non-family members not to intervene directly, urging they instead contact professionals in the health carefield or the police.She describes the typicalabused senior as being a woman over 75 living with a family member and dependent on that family member.Anyone interested in learning more about the problem is welcome to contact her at her office in Ashem, Gutknecht added.1 WEEK ONLY - NOV. 25 - NOV. 30MasterCards%THE REGULAR PRICESALL SALES FINALLadiesWear€
Newspaper Details
Selkirk Journal
Selkirk, Manitoba, CA
Tue, Nov 26, 1991
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 11 May 2020
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