PROTOCOL GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH THE ABUSE OF OLDER PEOPLE

Released on May 1, 1995

Bob Pringle, minister responsible for Seniors, today released
Guidelines for the Development of Protocols: Community-based Responses
to the Abuse and Neglect of Older People, a document which will help
communities develop protocols to deal with the abuse and neglect of
older people.

The guidelines came out of consultations held with several
organizations and individuals involved in seniors' programs and
services.

"The abuse and neglect of older persons is something we've had
difficulty dealing with as a society," Pringle said. "This document
will provide some very important information to communities, seniors'
groups, agencies and individuals across the province."

A national study found that four per cent of seniors who responded to
the survey had experienced some form of abuse. Financial exploitation
was found to be the most common form. The second most common was found
to be psychological or chronic verbal abuse.

Pringle said the purpose of the document is to help communities,
service providers, and individuals to join together to deal with abuse.
The document includes background on abuse and what causes it and a work
plan to guide communities in developing services and procedures to best
suit their residents.

Pringle said that an important element of these guidelines is that they
involve seniors in helping themselves deal with abuse.

"I want to commend all of those who participated in helping us develop
this document. Abuse really is a problem that as a society we need to
begin to deal with together."

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For more information, contact:

Virginia Wilkinson
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 787-0916