Together against elder abuse
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed every year on June 15.
At FADOQ, we stand for something simple yet essential: every older person deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and kindness.
Awareness and prevention efforts must continue. We promote and encourage the practice of kindness and respect toward seniors, particularly through programs such as Senior-Aware and In the Shoes of an Older Person. These initiatives aim to raise public awareness about abuse, fraud, the effects of aging, and to make support resources more widely known.
On June 15, we state loud and clear that elder abuse has no place—anywhere.
Abuse against older adults can take many forms: physical, psychological, sexual, organizational, material, or financial. It can also appear as ageism or a violation of rights.
In 2022, FADOQ took action to improve the law against elder abuse by advocating for stronger measures, such as criminal penalties for perpetrators and mandatory reporting by healthcare personnel.
This law is yielding positive results because more people report the abuse. According to data compiled by La Presse, 2,870 cases of abuse were reported to the healthcare system in 2021–2022, mostly within long-term care facilities (CHSLDs). In comparison, there were 866 cases reported in 2018–2019, the year the Act to combat maltreatment of seniors and other vulnerable adults came fully into force.
We emphasize that anyone who feels they are a victim of, or witness to, a situation of abuse should seek support, particularly through the Elder Mistreatment Helpline (1-888-489-2287).
