UN treaty must reach isolated older adults

UN treaty must reach isolated older adults

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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 Preventing the criminalization of dementia

Preventing the criminalization of dementia

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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 The equality flaw in Bill C-16

The equality flaw in Bill C-16

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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 This holiday season, lonely seniors deserve care

This holiday season, lonely seniors deserve care

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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 The hidden dangers of MAiD advance requests

The hidden dangers of MAiD advance requests

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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 COLUMN: Hope as an antidote to ageism

COLUMN: Hope as an antidote to ageism

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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 COLUMN: Canada Post is a lifeline for abused seniors

COLUMN: Canada Post is a lifeline for abused seniors

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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