17 22nd annual crime prevention guide Congratulations again, to the PEI Police Association for continuing their good work in producing their 22nd Annual Crime Prevention Guide. This year, the Association has picked “Elder Abuse” as their topic for the Guide. Elder abuse can be defined as psychological or physical violence towards the elderly, exploitation of the elderly, violation of the rights of the elderly, or abuse and/or neglect of elders. Elder abuse has become much too common in our society today as Statistics Canada reports that the reporting of elder abuse has increased over 20% in the past several years. They also report that by 2031, 8 million of us will be over the age of 65. The sad reality is that a great percentage of older adults have reported some form of emotional and/or financial abuse by an adult child relative, spouse or caregiver. Elder abuse can take several forms, including: Neglect: Signs include unkempt appearance, broken glasses, lack of appropriate clothing, as well as malnutrition, dehydration and poor personal hygiene. Physical Abuse: Signs include untreated or unexplainable injuries in various stages of healing, limb and skull fractures, bruises, black eyes and welts. Psychological/emotional abuse: Watch for changes in behaviour (emotional upset/agitation resulting in sucking, biting, rocking), withdrawal or non-responsiveness. Economic/financial abuse: Watch for sudden changes in bank accounts or banking activity, and major changes to legal documents such as powers of attorney and wills. Preventing elder abuse has to be a joint effort between adult children, government agencies, and local housing or care facilities. We must do everything in our power to stop this form of disgusting abuse and we need to make a difference in the lives of our seniors. They are the ones that fought for our country, the ones that gave us life, the ones that should be deeply respected, and their voices need to be heard worldwide. Let us band together to stop these despicable acts against our most cherished citizens. J. David Poirier Chief of Police Summerside Police Services message from summerside’s chief of police
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