Elder abuse is a serious problem on the Coast

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: concerned loved ones and caregivers who try to help end up in maze of agencies

(By Margot Grant)

Bob lives in Saskatchewan and decides to visit his 92-year old mother on the Sunshine Coast. She lives with Tim, his brother. When he arrives, he learns that Tim has quit his job to be Mom’s fulltime caregiver. Tim seems to be using drugs and the big, previously beautiful house no longer has heat or hot water, the steps to the front door are broken, there is mold, the roof leaks in places and all that’s in the fridge is some cream and two pies. 

To Tim’s resentment, Bob sets out to fix things. Their mother mentions that Tim has taken her to a notary to sign papers; it’s unclear what they were. Tim also has his mother’s bank cards, she says she never leaves the house anymore. 

Bob, who feels dirty after working all day, tries to wash his hair under the kitchen tap. When his head is in the sink, his brother kicks him hard from behind. Bob has a head wound, possibly a concussion, and phones 911. The RCMP take Tim away, but he is released the next morning. Bob flies back home. His mother phones him a few times. She seems confused and fearful. While Bob hears Tim whispering in the background, she says Tim is a good son and has never hit him, that just did not happen. She implores Bob to bring her great-granddaughter, whom she’s never met, over for a visit, but Bob finds it too dangerous with Tim around. A few months later, he gets a call that his mother has passed away. Tim has inherited everything. 

Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. 

How many seniors fall victim to elder abuse? There are few data. “We don’t know a whole bunch,” April Struthers, regional mentor of the BC Association of Community Response Networks (BC CRNs) told The Coast Clarion. “The general statistics say 8 to 10 per cent, but care workers say that is just the tip of the iceberg. A whole lot of research still needs to be done.”

According to Census Canada, there are 10,695 people over 65 on the Sunshine Coast. If the figure were 10 per cent, more than a thousand seniors in our communities are a victim of abuse.

And by all accounts, elder abuse is increasing. 

The B.C. Office of the Seniors Advocate (OSA) reported last year that the number of calls about abuse to the Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL) increased 110 per cent over the past five years. 

In the same period, the B.C. RCMP saw an increase of 55 per cent of cases of violence against seniors.

The most common form of elder abuse is financial. The overwhelming majority (95 per cent) of seniors in B.C. live in private homes. Many of these homes are not only sizeable, but also mortgage free. If Mom or Dad went into a long-term care home, the children could sell the house, or move in themselves. 

Phyllis (94) lives in a beautiful home. Her oldest daughter in Coquitlam has financial difficulties and wants her Mom to sell the house. Phyllis is afraid of her and will not let her in, but she does agree to meet at a restaurant on the Coast. As they leave the restaurant, the daughter tries to force Phyllis to sign papers, right then and there on the sidewalk. Phyllis resists; a kerfuffle ensues. The restaurant staff runs out and gets Phyllis safely back into the restaurant.

Gary (74), a wealthy widower, meets Susan (68). They fall in love and get married. Susan has no assets, she was struggling to pay her rent every month. Gary tells his three sons that he has changed his will so that Susan can stay in his house and live comfortably if he passes away first. The sons are furious and demand a divorce. The situation escalates and the sons resort to violence. The couple’s car is destroyed, their windows are broken, they receive death threats. The RCMP is called on a number of occasions and suggest it might be an idea to move off the Coast. They do, but they continue to live in fear on the Mainland. It takes a toll on their health; Gary has a heart attack and Susan is on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

The most common perpetrator among physical abusers is a spouse, followed by a child or grandchild, according to a report by the Office of the Seniors Advocate from 2021.

Gretchen (85) has been married to her abusive husband, a prominent figure on the Sunshine Coast, for more than 50 years. He has tried to convince her that the whole family would be better off if she were dead; can’t she see the problems she is causing? She has cancer and not only does he not support her, he tells her he hopes she will die. And he starts to tell her she could fall down the stairs, just like that. A concerned neighbour convinces Gretchen to report this to the RCMP, who take her story seriously and open a file. A few weeks later, there is an altercation at the house. The neighbour calls the RCMP who tell the husband that they have a file on him for elder abuse. After that, the abuse spirals. How dare she go to the police and accuse him? And what was the neighbour thinking, calling the RCMP on him?

During childhood, Linda (40), the youngest daughter, was bullied by her brother and two sisters; when they became adults, she was ignored. Then their mother got Alzheimer’s. Linda, who lives a block from her mother’s house in Selma Park, was most involved in her care. When her siblings started to ask questions about their mother, she hired a live-in caregiver who had strict instructions to open the door to no one. Phone calls went to voicemail. Neighbours no longer saw the mother outside. At first, when the siblings drove by they could see their mother watching television, something she was not in the habit of doing. When they tapped on the window to get her attention, the care aide closed the blinds, and now they are permanently closed. Nobody knows how the mother is doing. When they run into Linda, she laughs at them.

In situations like these, what help is available?

In case of acute danger, the RCMP should be called. We wanted more information on what the RCMP can and cannot do in cases of elder abuse, but media liaison Constable Karen Whitby did not return calls.

A number of agencies advertised in local media recently, offering services in case of elder abuse. We took a closer look at them.

When elder financial abuse is suspected, the office of the Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia (PGT) can look into the matter, but not in all cases. “For an investigation three criteria must all be present: there is a concern the adult may be mentally incapable of managing their finances; there is a specific, urgent or immediate need, and there is no other suitable person who has the authority or is willing to act on the adult’s behalf,” PGT spokesperson Judith Obatusa told The Coast Clarion in an email. 

The investigation process often takes more than six months. “The PGT seeks the least intrusive, most effective means of support to the adult to resolve the situation, and an investigation can have various possible outcomes, timelines and options for help,” the PGT website says.

The investigator may ask for financial records, Obatusa told The Coast Clarion. But what if the abuser does not supply them, or keeps the door closed so the investigator can’t speak with the senior?

In situations where there are concerns about other types of abuse or neglect, the PGT may refer the caller to a so-called Designated Agency, as required by law, Obatusa responded. 

The BC Securities Commission (BCSC) does not directly investigate elder financial abuse but gives advice about scams targeting seniors and warns about the risks posed by unscrupulous financial advisors.

The BCSC says it’s a good idea for seniors to appoint a Trusted Contact Person. This person does not have power of attorney, cannot make financial decisions and has no access to detailed account information, but he or she can keep an eye out for unusual transactions or propositions, give advice, or seek help if needed. The Trusted Contact Person should be an independent person whom the senior knows and trusts. The commission has a form to appoint such a person. 

In case of elder abuse in general, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is the Designated Agency. It has the authority to investigate and, if necessary, take steps to protect the senior.

“Anybody can make a report to us,” Padraig Reynolds, manager of VCH’s ReAct Adult Protection Program, told The Coast Clarion. The reports go to a central office in North Vancouver. When a call comes in, the responders will ask the caller questions to assess the situation. The callers are usually concerned loved ones or caregivers. Abuse victims themselves more often than not do not want to talk about what is happening. They may feel ashamed, want to protect family members, do not want to cause trouble, are fearful, or simply do not understand. 

If the victim is already known by VCH for other care, the person’s case manager will investigate. “We investigate, speak with the senior, the family doctor, the people around them,” Reynolds explained.

What if the victim has no family doctor and is not already involved with care by VCH? Who investigates in that case?

“I can’t respond to cases or scenarios,” Reynolds said. “Each case is different and needs to be investigated. The key is: what is the victim able to understand, what do they want? A police report, a safety plan? If the person is not mentally incapacitated or suffering from disease, he or she is responsible for their own decisions, like you and me,” he said.

VCH does not offer counselling to victims of elder abuse, Reynolds said. 

In case the abuse is more financial, ReAct will refer the victim to the Public Guardian and Trustee. If there is a problem with the person who has power of attorney, VCH will ask the senior what he or she wants to do.  

ReAct does at times refer victims of elder abuse to the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society (SCCSS) for help. SCCSS programs include Yew Transition House, Women’s Outreach, Community Based Victim Services, Police Based Victim Services and  Women’s Counselling, all in Sechelt.

But in case of elder abuse, it’s probably best to contact ReAct, Carey Rumba, Program Manager Community Action and Engagement for the SCCSS told The Coast Clarion in an email. If an abused senior woman needs shelter, she can phone the Yew access line, but Yew Transition House is very busy. Rumba said he thinks the Coast needs more resources and supports for victims of elder abuse. 

So ReAct may refer to the SCCSS, and the SCCSS thinks it’s best to call ReAct.

Another place to contact in case of suspected elder abuse is SAIL, the Seniors Abuse and Information Line run by Seniors First BC. Intake workers can refer callers to the RCMP, ReAct and PTG. But the workers can also give emotional support — not only to the victims, but also those who have witnessed elder abuse. Most importantly, SAIL provides legal aid. 

The following story did not take place on the Sunshine Coast. It comes from the Office of the Seniors Advocate British Columbia (OSA):

“Financial abuse can result from a senior becoming involved in a scam perpetrated by a stranger, but more often it is inflicted by a close family member who takes advantage of the relationship. This was true of Ingrid who had allowed her adult son to move in with her when he lost his job. The son soon started to take advantage of Ingrid’s trusting nature. By the time she phoned the OSA, he was taking money from her bank account and refusing to return it. Ingrid had previously put his name on her bank account so that he could assist her with managing her finances and she had made him Power of Attorney (POA). When she approached her bank manager, he said there was nothing he could do and referred her to the OSA. Ingrid was referred to SAIL and to the police. Because Ingrid was competent, neither the PGT nor the Designated Agency could become involved and the POA she granted made it difficult for the police to intervene. This was a complicated case; she would require strength and resolve to move forward with untangling her financial, legal and living situations.”

“If somebody is misusing their power of attorney, contact us,” SAIL spokesperson Justin Lee told The Coast Clarion. “Our legal professionals will go over your options and rights. In general, we give direct, factual help and information.”

The SAIL professionals can also give advice when family members try to pressure a senior to sell their home, Lee said. “We know those situations.”

Every first Friday of the month, SAIL holds Advanced Planning Clinics at the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre on Teredo Street in Sechelt to help with wills and power of attorney and representative agreements. Appointments can be made by calling SAIL. Funded by the Law Foundation, the clinics are free for seniors with an income below $40,000 a year, plus $10,000 for each additional household member. 

SAIL also runs an Elder Law Clinic with pro bono legal advice for eligible seniors, representing them in court if necessary. “Even if you don’t qualify, phone us so we can give you some options,” Lee said. 

SAIL regrets not being available 24 hours. The organization also needs more resources to provide initial services and follow-up. The legal department is temporarily severely understaffed.

The BC Association of Community Response Networks is trying to coordinate the work of the above agencies, BC CRN regional mentor April Struthers told The Coast Clarion. “We want to make sure people know where they can go, we try to make response to elder abuse more efficient, and we’re trying to raise public awareness about elder abuse in the community.”   

For years, the Office of the Seniors Advocate British Columbia (OSA) has pointed out that help for victims of elder abuse is inadequate. 

One of the biggest problems: B.C. does not have one, single, agency to respond to seniors’ abuse. “We found that only less than half the people who want to report elder abuse do, the rest don’t know who to call,” Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt told The Coast Clarion. “There needs to be a one-stop shop with one phone number, just like with child abuse.” There is no provincial strategy to address elder abuse as there is for domestic violence, there is no single number to call as there is for victim services and gambling support.

A generally accepted definition of elder abuse does not exist in B.C. Reporting elder abuse is not required by law. Cases are not tracked, outcomes not monitored. “The current system cannot ensure that calls and reports are responded to in a timely, appropriate and effective manner,” OSA says.

Different organizations refer to each other, but little actual help is available for abused seniors in need.

Levitt remains optimistic. “So far, the provincial government has not acted on these recommendations. But this can affect all of us. In 2036, one quarter of the population will be over 65.”

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How to recognize some of the common signs of abuse and neglect:

— Unexplained accidents or injuries

— Lack of money for necessities when income appears to be adequate

— Being agitated, anxious or fearful of being alone with a specific person

— Change in social patterns, interactions and buying habits

— Being unkempt or not well nourished

— Being inaccessible to family members or long-term friends 

— Sudden withdrawal of money; unexplained or forced changes to legal documents such as property titles, wills, powers of attorney or representation agreements

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RCMP non-emergency number: 604-885-2266

Public Guardian and Trustee: 1-877-511-4111 or 604-660-4444 or by email at AIS-PDS@trustee.bc.ca.

BC Securities Commission: 1-800-373-6393 or 604-899-6854 or by e-mail inquiries@bcsc.bc.ca. https://www.investright.org/avoid-fraud/identify-frauds-and-scams/elder-financial-abuse/#.

Vancouver Coastal Health ReAct Adult Protection Program: 1-877-732-2899 or 604-904-6173 or by email react@vch.ca

Sunshine Coast Community Services Society: 604-885-4241

Yew Transition House: 604-885-5128

SAIL: 1-866-437-1940 or 604-437-1940

Office of the Seniors Advocate: 1-877-952-3181 or 250-952-3181

Legal Services Society: 1-866-577-2525 or 604-408-2172

Government of BC: www.gov.bc.ca/elderabuse