As part of the Government of Alberta’s ‘Taking Action Against Elder Abuse Co-ordinated Community Response Grant program’ the Interval Home Society has received $75, 000. The provincial program helps organizations work together to address elder abuse through prevention strategies and increased safety measures.
Here in the Border City, Angela Rooks-Trotzuk, the Executive Director of the Lloydminster Interval Home Society, says the money will be used to create a response to elder abuse.
“Right now there’s not a collaborative or a cohesive response and honestly there’s not a lot of awareness in the community.”
Rooks-Trotzuk says they have a committee comprised of members from:
- The Interval Home Society
- The Sexual Assault and Information Centre
- Alberta Health Services
- Catholic Social Services
- Prairie North Health Region
- Lloydminster Region Health Foundation
Recently they did an environmental scan to find out what is needed, Rooks-Trotzuk says “we realized we really don’t know what we need. We have some really solid agencies that can respond but do people in the community really know about it?”
The first step for the process will be finding out what the needs are and then how to respond to them.
“Our goal with the money is to kind of do a needs assessment or really explore what already exists in the community, how we can better maximize what’s already in the community and what gaps are there and how do we go about filling those gaps.”
Rooks-Trotzuk adds, “that age and that demographic and what their needs are will be better understood in the realm of abuse and violence. We know it’s out there but because of the demographic in the nature of elders that experience abuse, it’s very hidden. There’s a lot of shame and embarrassment in someone who’s experienced abuse.”
For elders experiencing abuse, Rooks-Trotzuk says that people can always go to the Interval Home Society for support or to any of the agencies listed above.
A total of $1.5 million was distributed to 31 communities in Alberta as part of the grant program.
The Interval Home Society’s Crisis and Support Line can be reached 24/7, by phone cal at 780-875-0966 or by text at 780-808-1777.