What can I do if I, or someone I care about, is being abused?

My aunt lives with her son and his family. I suspect that she’s being abused. She acts nervous when her son is in the room, her bedroom has a lock on the door, and she has bruises on her arm. When I asked her about the situation she seemed very confused. Why isn’t she reporting this abuse?

There are many reasons why people might not report abuse. They include

• shame that a family member treats them badly and a need to keep it in the family;
• fear of making the situation worse, leading to more abuse;;
• fear of being placed in an institution;
• fear of losing a caregiver or contact with a family member;
• a belief that they are getting what they deserve, for example, if they feel they were not a good parent;
• a belief that police or social services cannot help them;
• a belief that they cannot prove the abuse is happening.

Last Reviewed: June 2017

If my aunt is not reporting the abuse she appears to be suffering, should I report it for her?

If there is any possibility of immediate danger of physical harm, then you should notify the police or call 911 immediately. Otherwise, it is important to deal with cases of suspected abuse with a degree of care, particularly because the abuser might retaliate against the elderly person. It is also important to respect the dignity of the elderly person who might choose to accept or reject help.

Agreement on the part of the elderly person to any subsequent actions is very important, unless the person is not mentally competent. For this reason, you
should speak with your aunt before taking any action and be sure that all possible outcomes of intervention are considered. In order to help her make her
decision, you can bring to your aunt’s attention many resources on elder abuse and the names of agencies that can offer assistance.

Last Reviewed: June 2012

What would be a good way to approach my aunt to ask her if she is being physically abused?

Depending upon the individual, strategies that you might use include

• directly and respectfully asking your aunt if any abuse is occurring;
• encouraging your aunt to contact others such as a doctor, lawyer, social worker, public health worker, or home care worker;
• describing to your aunt the benefits she might be entitled to which could help her be more independent;
• providing information about counselling services for the abused or the abuser;
• helping to dispel myths about abuse, for example, that protecting the abuser’s reputation will not help the abuser change, that there is no “perfect family”, and that abuse can exist at any education or income level;
• helping your aunt understand that nobody deserves to be abused;
• encouraging her to get out and use community service programs, such as drop-in centres;
• encouraging your aunt to get a thorough health assessment from her doctor or a health unit.

Last Reviewed: June 2017

I think my brother-in-law is abusing my mother. What will happen if I report abuse?

You can report a criminal matter to the police even if it does not directly involve yourself. If you want the police to investigate the possibility of charging your brother-in-law, you will have to go to the police station and give a statement that describes what you believe your brother-in-law is doing. The police will then
investigate the situation, which would likely involve interviewing your mother and your brother-in-law, and any other witnesses. The police will then decide if they have enough evidence to charge your brother-in-law with an offence.

What kinds of agencies can I contact to get information about abuse?

Agencies and personnel differ in the various provinces and territories, but there are agencies that can lead you to information and to more specialized agencies in your location:

• police
• health units
• social service agencies
• mental health clinics
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• family doctors
• hospitals
• Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee

Also see the list of additional resources linked below.

Last Reviewed: June 2017

Emergency Protection Orders

I am really worried about my grandfather who lives with my uncle. I am sure my uncle is hurting him physically. Is there anything I can do to quickly get help for my grandfather?

In Alberta, there is a law called the Protection Against Family Violence Act. This law provides a way for a family member experiencing abuse, the police, or another person acting with the consent of the abused person to apply for an Emergency Protection Order (EPO) from the court. A family member is eligible to ask for such an order if he or she is related to the abuser through blood, marriage or adoption, so this would cover your grandfather.

An emergency order may allow for your grandfather to be removed from the house, if he is being forcibly confined there against his will along with a wide range of other measures to protect him. Emergency measures such as these are available 24 hours a day and are only available if the situation is urgent or serious. Your grandfather can apply for an EPO or you can apply on his behalf, with his consent.

In Alberta, you can contact Legal Aid Alberta’s Emergency Protection Order program for free advice and assistance.

An EPO may be issued in cases of the following types of family violence:

• actions that cause personal injury, prope rty damage, or intimidation. This can include kicking, punching, and breaking personal property and furniture.
• failure to provide food, shelter or medical attention for the purpose of intimidation;
• threats that cause reasonable fear of injury or property damage, or that are meant to intimidate;
• forced confinement;
• sexual contact that is a result of force or threat of force; and
• stalking.

One of the factors that a judge will consider when deciding about making an EPO is the vulnerability of elderly family members. The application for the Order
can be made without notice to the abuser, but it does not take effect until a copy of the Order has been served on the abuser. Usually, the Order will be served by the police or a process server. For more information on EPO’s and serving documents on an abusive person see:

www.cplea.ca/servingdocuments.pdf
www.cplea.ca/emergencyprotectionorder.pdf

The Order must be reviewed by the court within nine working days from the time it is granted.

For more information about Emergency Protection Orders in Alberta, call toll-free 1-866-845-3425 or visit: