There are so few resources in this country. It shames us if we look at the comparative jurisdictions in the G20. There is not one place for older adults to call. We've been advocating for a phone line. We already have a national crime prevention phone line that could be used as an elder abuse phone line. We've not had an awareness campaign on elder abuse and neglect since 2009. The prevalence of elder abuse and neglect is considered to be about one in six older people. The resources by contrast are almost non-existent.
This federal government has a role it can play which it has not yet had the opportunity to play, but we hope it will. The provinces and territories are cutting back the very little community-based funding there is.
It's shocking, and it doesn't need to be. The rates of elder abuse are expanding quantitatively.