That was well said. Thank you very much.
Having a former legal practice and doing a lot of family law that intersected with elder abuse issues, I understand that some of the big issues in prosecution are the willingness of witnesses. Sometimes they themselves maybe don't realize that what is happening to them is abuse. Secondly, they don't realize they have options. Thirdly, when it comes time to prosecute, often older people who are vulnerable, perhaps financially and emotionally, are afraid of the consequences of speaking up.
What I've seen with police officers is often, “Well, if we get them into a safer situation, let's just let it go, because all of that is very complicated.”
I'm interested in what the Canadian Bar Association sees as a way to support elders who are able to come forward. With children, we have things like child advocacy centres, for instance, because children are vulnerable.
Is there something you see as a way forward that perhaps the federal government could fund or support that would help take what is already in the code, or just common decency, into action for the elderly?