Get Help for a loved one
If someone you know or love is being abused or neglected, it is critical that you take action to help protect their rights, dignity, and personal well-being.
Here is what you can do:
- If you believe someone is experiencing abuse and is in imminent danger, call the police immediately by dialling 911.
- If there is no imminent danger, call the dispatch line for your local police service. The police may also be able to provide information on other community resources.
- If the abuse is happening within a public care facility such as a lodge, hospital, or long-term care facility, you are required by law to report it to Protections for Persons in Care at 1-888-357-9339.
- Talk to the person you are concerned about. Be open and compassionate about your concerns. Take time and care to ensure that the person knows that the abuse is not their fault and that help is available.
- Encourage and/or assist the person to contact community agencies. For resource information in your area, as well as 24 hour support and referral, call the provincial Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818.
- Unless the person who is being abused is unable to care for themselves or make sound personal decisions because of a disability, he or she has the right to choose where and how to live. Keep checking on what that person wants. Continue to inquire as to what support is needed from you.
If the person chooses not to leave the abusive situation, do not be judgmental. Understand that leaving an abusive situation is not easy for anyone, and continue to remind your loved one that you are there for support if and when it is needed.
Staying Safe: A Resource for Older Adults Living in Alberta.
This handbook was created to provide older adults with important information to help them stay safe. It is a comprehensive guide that can help older adults identify an unsafe or abusive situation and understand their rights and options if someone in their life is hurting them.
