When one sees an animal being abused, it outrages people and the incident is reported to law enforcement. The same holds true for our children. If one sees a child being abused, it is immediately reported and action taken.

But, what about our seniors? What happens when they are abused? Often, people turn a blind-eye, ignore it and in many cases, do not even consier it abuse.

The most vulunerable of our society, children, animals, and our elderly deserve to be treated with dignity and fairness.

The number of incidences of elder abuse in Alberta is staggering.According to the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network, approximately 23,000 seniors in Alberta are experiencing one or more form of abuse, whether its physical, emotional, sexual assault, neglect, financial, medicinal, or the violation of human rights from an adult child, caregiver, or spouse. Most however; in fact about 96 percent of abused elders will hide the abuse out of fear.

To think that elder abuse is not happening on a daily basis in the southeast corner of the province would be naive, to say the least.  Whether it is verbal abusives being hurled at an elderly resident by a caregiver or an adult child not allowing their elderly parent the basic dignities of life, it is happening right in our back yard and it is time for people to not ignore it.

The Protection for Persons in Care Act, which was proclaimed on July 1, requires that all abuse of adult Albertans who receive care or support services that are funded by the provincial governhment, be reported to Protection for Persons in Care, the police, or another regulatory body. The service providers included under the Act are seniors' lodges, hospitals, nursing homes, women's shelters, homeless shelters, youth shelters, supportive living settings, as well as for those who receive services through a Persons with Developmental Disabilites community board, and day and residential services that are funded by Alberta Health Services.

The Protection for Persons in Care Act may only be in place for seniors who are in receipt of care and support services provided by the Alberta government, but laws are in place to protect all Albertans, all Canadians.

An abused senior likely will not report it themselves because they are fearful to do so and like an animal or a child, they may not have the voice to do so. So, it is important for the rest of the community to take the initiative when they witness or suspect that abuse is taking place. The local law enforcement will investigate it as they do any other crime.

Our seniors are the people who have built our communities and worked hard so we can enjoy the lives we have. They do not deserve to be yelled at, beaten, cheated, or neglected. They deserve to age with dignity, respect, compassion, and fairness.