Dear mayor / municipal counsellor:
I am writing today to introduce Future Us: A Pan-Canadian Roadmap to the Prevention of Elder Abuse, a national engagement strategy led by the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. It is important for you, as an elected official, to understand the specific issues of abuse and neglect of older people in our community, and as a country.
The Government of Canada has estimated that by the year 2030, seniors will number over 9.5 million and make up 23 percent of Canadians. The Canadian government also reports that as many as 10 per cent of older people experience abuse, most often by a spouse or family member. “Only one in five incidents of elder abuse comes to the attention of those who can help. Is this only the tip of the iceberg? Most likely, especially given the compounding challenge of a rapidly growing aging population.” The time to act is now.
Elder abuse is not an individual issue. It is a societal issue that requires a whole society response. We need to address ageism and all other forms of inequity and discrimination that undermine human rights and increases exposure to violence and abuse.
The prevention of elder abuse should be a priority issue in our community. We are working toward this goal as our first step. As a member of [your local network], we request a meeting to talk about how we can work with you to achieve the goals of Future Us that are outlined in the roadmap.
The future of us – is up to all of us. We look forward to talking with you.
Respectfully,
Download as Word Document
Go to the meeting prepared with your list of concrete ‘asks’. At the top of your list is the goal to recognize elder abuse prevention as a priority issue by the local government. Ask for support on this goal. Ask them to do something specific, such as take it to council. Ask for their input and advice about how to move forward. Ask them to be a champion.
Other ‘asks’ for local government officials may include (no more than 2 or 3):
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