If you are an abused senior
If you believe you are a victim of a form of abuse, ask for help by calling the
Ligne Aide Abus Aînés telephone line, at 1-888-489-2287.
Very often, seniors are reluctant to report the abuse they are suffering or simply to ask for help.
Moreover, some seniors, women or men, hide their abuse situation out of fear of:
- breaking the relationship with their abuser;
- suffering reprisals from their abuser;
- being abandoned or placed in an institution;
- not being believed;
- being excluded by the rest of their family.
Some hide their situation instead because they believe that:
- their situation does not constitute abuse;
- their situation is a matter that should stay within the family;
- their abuse is justified or deserved;
- nobody can help them;
- they must protect their abuser against eventual consequences, such as criminal charges.
Other reasons may also hinder a request for help, such as illiteracy, lack of knowledge of French or English, and cultural difference, which are barriers to access to information and assistance services.
If you are one of the people who are hiding their abuse situation, don't hesitate to ask for help. To find out more about the resources available to you, look up
help resources.
If you are a witness
If you have witnessed an abuse situation, take action by calling the
Ligne Aide Abus Aînés telephone line, at 1-888-489-ABUS (2287).
If you suspect that a senior is a victim of abuse, here are some actions you can take to check whether this is really an abuse situation:
Often, seniors do not realize they are being abused. At the core of an unhealthy relationship, they do not realize that they have gradually transitioned from an unpleasant situation to an abuse situation.
It is therefore important for the people around them to recognize the main clues of abuse so they can put an end to it. The
players concerned in the abuse situation then can be guided to the appropriate
helping resources.
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