|
BCIFV
home > Issues > Elder
Abuse > Fact Sheet #10
FACT SHEET #10
B.C. COALITION TO ELIMINATE ABUSE OF SENIORS
FACT SHEET #10
VIOLATION
OF CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS
Violation of rights is
the negation or disregard for the human rights of
an individual. For example - withholding of information, denial
of privacy, denial of visitors, restriction of liberty or
mail censorship.
Unless the senior has
agreed or is certifiably confused, no one has the
right to deny the human rights of another person. When one
is denied their human rights it definitely affects their self-esteem
and confidence, and demoralization sets in.
SCENARIO #1
When her husband died, Martha went to live with her son, daughter-in-law
and grandchildren. Martha has become very unhappy because
they are opening her mail, telling her friends she is asleep
when they call or phone, and refuse to let her go to the church
she has attended for over 40 years. She feels like a prisoner
in their home and is becoming very depressed and wishes she
had not given up her own residence.
SCENARIO #2
Joe had recently sold his house, bought a condo, and given
his son Power of Attorney. Joe went on a holiday to visit
his brother in another province. While there he received a
call from his son telling him not to bother coming home as
he had sold the condo, his furniture and car. Joe’s son
told him to stay with his brother as he was a nuisance to
him.
SCENARIO #3
Mario and Filomina are both in their 90's. Their grandson
had recently lost his job and they invited him, his wife and
family to stay with them. Mario and Filomina moved into the
basement suite to accommodate the family in the larger space
upstairs. After a few months the grandson persuaded his grandparents
to put the house in his name with the understanding that he
would take care of them until their deaths. Once they had
signed the house over to the grandson he and his wife became
increasingly abusive to them. He destroyed their mail, disconnected
their phone, did not allow their friends to visit and never
took them anywhere. He totally controlled their lives making
Mario and Filomina very fearful of their future and their
health began to deteriorate.
CONTINUUM
OF VIOLATION OF CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS
- Disregard for the rights of
a senior
- Opening of personal mail
- Making decisions for a senior
without consulting with him/her
- Not allowing friends to visit/discouraging
friendships
- Not allowing phone calls from
friends
- Not allowing senior to attend
their place of worship
- Seniors not permitted to make
decisions about their life
- Not allowing senior to come
and go as he/she pleases
- Withholding support needed
to exercise these rights
FACT SHEET #9
B.C. COALITION TO ELIMINATE ABUSE OF SENIORS
FACT SHEET #9
333 - 6TH STREET - NEW
WESTMINSTER, BC V3L 3A9
Telephone: (604) 521-1235
Fax: (604) 515-0201
FUNDED BY:
THE LEON AND THEA KOERNER FOUNDATION AND THE HAMBER FOUNDATION
Read
other fact sheets in this series:
This
page last updated October 25, 2000.
Copyright (c) 1996 BC
Institute Against Family Violence.
|
