The seniors abuse line will soon be available 24-7 with expanded services, Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau announced today at the Finding Solutions Symposium hosted by the Manitoba Network for the Prevention of Abuse of Older Adults.
“Abuse can occur at any time and seniors may need to call the abuse line any day of the week,” said Rondeau. “By expanding the hours of service as well as increasing the level of service available to them when they call, we will be able to help more people find ways to be safe and secure.”
Consultations with partners across the province identified a need to expand the services of the line to include confidential telephone counselling from highly trained counsellors and expanded hours of service. Information about elder abuse and referrals to other agencies will continue to be offered.
To deliver the expanded services, a new partnership has been formed with Klinic Community Health Centre. Klinic will work together with Age & Opportunity to deliver the elder abuse phone counselling. Age & Opportunity has been a key partner in delivering elder abuse services to older Manitobans and will continue to provide valuable one-on-one counselling and support to older adults experiencing abuse, Rondeau said.
“Klinic has a long history of providing support and counselling to people whose lives have been affected by violence, abuse and exploitation. As our population ages, the abuse of older adults and the mental health of older adults will become even more critical and pressing. Klinic is pleased to be partnering with the province on this important initiative and working collaboratively with our friends at Age & Opportunity,” said Tim Wall, director of counselling services.
Today’s announcement builds on the work of the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative to support seniors in leading active, socially engaged, independent lives that contribute to healthy aging, the minister said. It is Manitoba’s goal to be the most age-friendly province in Canada by working with communities to enhance the programs and services that benefit the well-being of all seniors, he added.
“Research tells us that as many as 15,000 older Manitobans will experience one or more forms of abuse at some point in later years. This is not acceptable,” said Rondeau. “We expect the expanded level of service on the abuse line will be of particular value to people in rural and northern communities where accessing elder-abuse counselling services can be challenging.”
The abuse of older adults is any action or inaction by a person in a relationship of trust which jeopardizes the health or well-being of an older person, Rondeau explained. The types of abuse are physical, sexual, emotional, financial and neglect. Anyone wanting information or requiring assistance can call the line at 1-888-896-7183. The expanded services are expected to be fully operational in early spring 2011.
