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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 25, 2015 | 12 Teamwork to make elder abuse a thing of the past by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver By working together, Halton Region and the Town of Oakville can stop elder abuse. That was the message from Oakville MPP and Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn, who joined Halton police and members of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) Halton chapter, Elder Abuse Ontario (EAO) and the Elder Abuse Prevention Committee of Halton last Thursday (June 18) for a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) forum at the Halton Regional Centre in Oakville. WEAAD is recognized worldwide every June to raise the visibility of elder abuse and related issues. Besides remarks from Flynn, there was a panel discussion with officials from Halton police, Crime Stoppers of Halton, EAO and Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO), as well as a keynote address from Dr. Veronique Boscart. She is the CIHR and Schlegel Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Seniors Care at Conestoga College. "We can work together to do a number of things. One of those is to send a very strong message that abuse against our older generation is wrong and simply will not be tolerated," said Flynn. "It's something we won't turn a blind eye to anymore. It's something we never should have turned a blind eye to in the past." Between 2010-14, Halton police received more than 400 reports of elder abuse -- about 60 per cent were related to assault -- but seniors are vulnerable to many forms of abuse including physical, emotional, financial, sexual and neglect. Seniors suffering from abuse often don't speak up, sometimes because they can't, Flynn said, or they won't because of feelings of shame, fear or "the lack of awareness" that someone would help. "The Ontario government strongly commits to helping all seniors stay healthy, safe and active. As part of our action plan for seniors, we've Dr. Veronique Boscart was the keynote speaker at the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day panel discussion held in the auditorium of the Halton Regional Centre last Thursday. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_ photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) taken decisive action on the issue of elder abuse," said Flynn. The Oakville MPP said Ontario is the first province in Canada to introduce a strategy to combat elder abuse, which see As on p.15 Hair Studio 1 summer! Cool Cuts for r men only 3 Wash, Cut and style 3 free gifts speCial offer fo $ Cannot be combined with any expires December 31, 2015 other offer. Above deal cannot 55 be shared. 2368 Lakeshore Rd. W, Oakville (back entrance) to book an appointment please call 905-469-0344 www.hairstudio1.ca Glen Abbey's only Authentic british Pub! ic liVe Musights n y saturda nday and su ns afternoo ABBEY ARMS 481 North Service Rd. @ 4th Line Oakville 905-825-1109 Visit www.abbeyarmspub.ca to see our menu Mention th is ad to get 10% off yo ur food order