The abuse of elderly people has become so common that the Vancouver Police Department has created its own unit to address the issue.
Const. Anna Grigoletto of the Elder Abuse Unit confirmed the abuse of senior citizens is on the rise.
"Elder abuse is where domestic violence was maybe 15 years ago," she said.
"It's just starting to come up in the aging population. It's becoming more of an issue for us, unfortunately."
The elderly are more vulnerable to abuse because of their age and health issues. They can also be less mobile and unable to access services.
Physical abuse is not the only issue -- seniors are often victims of theft by their own family.
Often, it's the person who comes into a vulnerable or elderly person's life, gains trust by assisting them with things like grocery shopping and healthcare.
Overtime, con artists masquerading as do-gooders eventually gain access to bank accounts.
"If an elderly person suffers from dementia or any type of mental health issue, it could be very problematic for them to provide a statement, to articulate to police what exactly is going on in their house," Grigoletto said.
The VPD Abuse Unit encourages people to be more aware, watchful and listen to what seniors are saying.
Some warning signs of elder abuse include: bruises, cuts and other injuries; a sudden loss of money or being stressed about finances.
The community can help to protect senior citizens -- the most vulnerable segment of our society.
To report elder abuse:
-Call the Vancouver Police Department's non-emergency line at 604-717-3321
-Call Vancouver Coastal Health and speak to an intake nurse at 604-263-7377
-Call Victimlink at 1-800-563-0808, which opereates 24 hours a day
-Call the B.C. Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors at 1-866-437-1940
You can also check our related links on the right side of this webpage for more information.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Dr. Rhonda Low
