Family violence against seniors in Canada has surged to an all-time high, as revealed by a recent report from Statistics Canada. The incidence of family violence targeting seniors across the country has risen by 49% since 2018. In 2024, there were 7,622 senior victims of police-reported family violence nationwide.
According to the report, the most common perpetrators of family violence against seniors last year were their children, with approximately one in four cases involving a spouse or another family member. Alexandra Lysova, a criminology professor at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., expressed concern about the escalating elder abuse trends. She emphasized that while seniors are less likely to experience abuse within family relationships compared to younger individuals, the issue demands serious attention as the senior population grows.
Key risk factors for older adults, as highlighted by Lysova, include cognitive decline and physical fragility, making them more susceptible to victimization by family members. Economic challenges, stress, and communication dynamics within generations were cited as contributing to the vulnerability of seniors in Canada. Notably, police-reported data may only capture a fraction of abuse incidents, as many victims refrain from reporting due to various reasons, including shame and familial dynamics.
The report also indicated changes in the way police record data on senior violence since 2018, potentially influencing the reported increase. Lysova called for future reports from StatsCan to delve deeper into violence against seniors, providing contextual information on the incidents.
In British Columbia (B.C.), the Seniors First B.C. hotline for senior abuse witnessed a substantial uptick in calls related to physical, financial, and emotional abuse. Marie-Noël Campbell, the executive director and staff lawyer, reported an 85% increase in calls regarding physical abuse since 2019. Campbell noted that the escalating violence against older adults has been a persistent trend, with calls to the hotline steadily rising.
Dan Levitt, B.C.’s seniors advocate, acknowledged the rise in elder abuse and highlighted ageism as a societal issue impacting how elder abuse is perceived. Levitt emphasized the importance of observing lifestyle changes in seniors, such as alterations in diet, finances, or social behavior, as potential signs of abuse. Recognizing behavioral shifts in seniors and initiating conversations can help shed light on possible instances of elder abuse.
