Coalition launches response addressing elder abuse in rural areas
Protecting the elderly in our local communities was the theme for a ceremony and luncheon held at the Alliance Church in Viking on Friday, June 15, which happened to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Representatives from five local counties have been working together for many months on a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) model for preventing abuse of seniors.
“I’m one of many rural elder abuse coalition members,” said Viking/Beaver FCSS Director Tracey Boast Radley while welcoming everyone. There were many coalition members in attendance to witness the launch of the CCR, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
Once signed, “the document will be distributed within your communities,” explained Lamont County FCSS Director Sara Rindero. “Certain community members will then get it,” to be followed by education and training for all the participating groups.
“The basic reason,” she said, for forming the coalition, was that “a bunch of local professionals got together about three years ago.” They had noticed that, although “we had done a good job educating the public against various forms of violence,” Rindero said elder abuse was “on the outskirts” of that, without definition of types or the necessary resources available to deal with it.
She added that the issue has “become exceptionally challenging in rural Alberta.”
The binder presented that day as a result of steps taken to address this issue “is not meant to be put on a shelf,” she said. “The intent is to use it,” including the signs, flow charts and other resources inside.
“It’s kind of a full meal deal here,” she said. “I hope it benefits all the communities.” All the partnering jurisdictions have agreed to meet and put into practice what the manual has to offer, although it will have to be re-examined and tweaked over time.
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Patricia Harcourt
Editor
