â–ş Listen Live
â–ş Listen Live

Prince George community raises awareness for elder abuse

Prince George residents banded together this afternoon to raise awareness for World Elder Abuse Awareness Week with a city-wide car parade.

Additionally, a flag was raised yesterday (Monday) in front of city hall to commence the start of World Elder Abuse Awareness Week in front of City Hall.

35 drivers showed up to the Aquatic Centre Parking Lot to begin their parade across town, driving in front of senior care homes and other organizations that help protect Prince George’s elderly population.

Organizations such as the Native Friendship Centre and the Prince George Brain Injury group joined the parade to raise awareness of the issue.

During the parade, Mayor Lyn Hall proclaimed this week as Elder Abuse Awareness week in Prince George.

Shelly Le Breton, Community Response Network Coordinator says one of the places drivers passed by is Gateway Lodge, and it’s important seniors in facilities recognize that they haven’t been forgotten about in PG.

“It’s a little bit of a complicated route, but we want to drive by where the seniors are living, and they’re not on the main drag but we felt it was important since there’s still no resource centres opened up, their normal support systems are closed, so we felt it important that they know that we didn’t forget about them. And if they can’t come to us, we can go to them.”

Le Bretton says 1 in 10 seniors experience some form of elder abuse, and it is a somewhat underreported issue.

“Elder abuse is unique in the way that we define it in the way that the people who are the abusers are people the elder trusts, loves and relies on, and they become very vulnerable because of those relationships,” explained Le Breton.

Le Breton says a lot of the abuse goes unchallenged because of the relationship that commonly exists between the abuser and the abused.

“Elder abuse often has to do with finances, so as people age, people feel entitled to their money and it’s usually a loved one or someone that’s been given the power of attorney or something like that,” Le Breton added.

She hopes that one day, the province delegates more resources to protecting seniors, noting that BC works hard to protect domestic violence victims and also has the Ministry of Children and Families to protect children.

Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Continue Reading

cjci Now playing play

cirx Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

<p>

- Advertisement -
</p>

Latest News

Hartley’s Sports Shorts; Monday, July 7th

Check out the latest sports reports here.

Grizzly bear attack west of Fort Nelson leaves one with non-life-threatening injuries

The BC Conservation Officer Service says a grizzly bear attack near Fort Nelson left one man with non-life-threatening injuries.  According to a Facebook post from the Conservation Officer Service, the attack took place at 11:00 this morning near a remote, fly-in location approximately 110 kilometres west of Fort Nelson, where a group was working in the area. 

Final touches being made for Special Olympics BC Games

With a flag raising Monday, a Torch Run on Wednesday, an opening ceremony on Thursday, and competitions on Friday and Saturday, the Special Olympics BC Games are set to bring plenty of excitement to Prince George this week. 

Darin’s Sports Shorts; Sunday, July 6th

Recap of Saturday's sports.

Surprise visit brings big smiles to boy battling cancer in Quesnel

A young man battling eye cancer received a surprise visit over the Canada Day long weekend by a car club and motorcycle club in Quesnel. Over 50 vehicles from the Prospector’s Car Club and the Dangerous Curves Motorbike Club drove by and filled the dead-end roads near Kellen Harper-Frederiko’s house, with well wishes, toys to give to Kellen, and chances for him to sit in and on cars and bikes.
- Advertisement -