Getting Tough on Elder Abuse - Are We There Yet?

On Friday of last week, the Canadian government introduced Bill C-36, the Protecting Canada’s Seniors Act. The bill, fulfilling a promise made by the Conservatives during elections, seeks to amend the Criminal Code to impose harsher sentences for elder abuse. While it has received wide support, advocacy groups are hoping the government doesn’t consider this its only step in supporting victims of elder abuse. The problem is, the bill doesn’t come close to addressing the root causes of abuse.

Take for example the case of Danae Chambers, the 71-year old Ontario woman with dementia who was discovered being anally raped by her male nurse in her nursing home last year. The horrific details of the case were reported in the Toronto Star which also reported on several other cases of abuse.