Today, conservatively, 250,000, seniors in Ontario alone experience abuse. Three out of four senior victims are abused by someone they know. The stigma surrounding the subject, and the reality that the abuse is usually perpetrated by a loved one, makes it difficult to determine an accurate rate of prevalence. As our population ages, the likelihood of retaining clients who are victims of, or at risk of being subjected to, elder abuse has increased; especially for those who practise in Wills & Estates and Elder Law. Accordingly, it is paramount that lawyers understand the different types of elder abuse and are aware of the signs of it occurring.
The World Health Organization defines elder abuse as, “an intentional act, or failure to act, by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes harm to an adult 60 years and older”. The Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse furthers upon that definition and has identified seven distinct forms of elder abuse and the specific harmful actions that are typically committed under each category. The following table summarizes the information they provide on the differing forms of elder abuse.
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