Last month, energy was high at the United Nations as an intergovernmental working group began the formal process of drafting a convention on the rights of older persons. The momentum is welcome. Older people have long received limited attention in international human rights law, and ageism remains embedded in legal and social systems. But as […]
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Years ago, I was told a story about an older man in a care home who would refuse to sit at the dining room table. He would just stand there. At times, staff found him agitated and difficult, trying repeatedly to make him sit. Eventually, they learned the truth: he was simply a gentleman, waiting […]
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Mrs. Schneider, 78, can no longer access her own bank account, having been told she is “too stupid” to handle money. Her mail is intercepted, and her medications are withheld. Visits with friends are monitored, and she is not allowed to attend her book club. Violent threats are routine. Her wheelchair and hearing aids are […]
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December is often portrayed as a season of togetherness, with windows glowing, families gathering, and a month steeped in social rituals. But for many older Canadians, the winter holidays are a particularly lonely time. And loneliness, despite its quietness, is not benign. It can distort judgment, shrink a person’s world, and trap them in patterns […]
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Canada’s potential expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) to include advance requests is being hailed by many as a triumph of autonomy. But beneath this misleading veneer lies the grave risk of elder abuse. When the stakes are life and death, our duty must be to protect the vulnerable, not create pathways that could […]
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“Grandma? It’s me, your grandson,” the voice on the phone trembled. “I got into a car accident and they said I hit someone. Please don’t tell anyone,” pleaded the caller. “I’ve been arrested and need bail money right away.” The scammer pressed on, sounding urgent and scared. “The lawyer said someone can come pick up […]
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The other day as our family settled into a booth for lunch, there was an older woman a few tables over eating ice cream and drinking pop by herself. As I glanced her way, I noticed that she had spilled her food, soiling her t-shirt and tray. After wiping up a bit, she went to […]
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As communities across the country prepare to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, let’s think about what the postal system means for isolated and mistreated older Canadians. Launched in 2006 and officially recognized five years later by the United Nations, WEAAD is an annual opportunity to acknowledge the significance of elder […]
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When the Governor General prorogued Parliament in January of this year, most bills that had not received royal assent were terminated and must be reintroduced as if they had never existed. An exception is private member’s bills, which continue from session to session. If the bill had passed third reading in the House of Commons, […]
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Elder abuse is a complex societal problem that affects an estimated 10 percent of seniors. Yet Canada has no national elder abuse strategy that guides prevention and enforcement initiatives. Instead, many victims must rely on a patchwork of inconsistent services and supports, with too many cases going unnoticed, unprosecuted and unpunished. This federal election, voters […]
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