Loretta Kroeker, of Tofield, has been the case manager for the Rural Elder Abuse Prevention Coalition (REAP) for seven years, and has a Bachelor of Social Work.
The coalition was formed in January 2016 through a Coordinated Community Response Grant accessed through the government of Alberta, and all the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) in the central zone are partners in the coalition.
The central zone includes Lamont County, Two Hills County, Flagstaff County, Minburn County, and Beaver County. Statistics are sent to the provincial government twice per year to prove that the service is still needed.
“The government is very interested in whether it’s a necessary service and this has been the busiest year since I’ve started. The money comes from the government every September, the new grant, and from the first of September until now, I have had one new case every week.
“In 2023 I had 23 cases, which is about one every two weeks. Now so far in the first five months, I’ve had one every week. I hate to think what the last half of this year may look like,” Kroeker says.
Kroeker does a lot of the prevention and awareness work by holding presentations, her most recent titled, “Neighbours, Friends and Families, It’s Not Right.”
“I’m authorized this year to really highlight education and awareness. It teaches the common person on the street what to do if they have a neighbour and they suspect they may be abused,” she said.
The government of Alberta describes the definition of elder abuse as follows: “Elder abuse is any intentional or reckless act, or willful and negligent disregard occurring within a relationship of family, trust or dependency, directed at someone 65 years of age or older, that causes physical harm, emotional or psychological harm, involves the misappropriation or misuse of money or other personal possessions or personal or real property, subjects an individual to non-consensual sexual contact, activity or behaviour, or fails to provide the necessities of life.”
Kroeker receives referrals that she then investigates, which can be risky.
“Anytime anyone suspects some kind of elder abuse, they can phone me. Then it’s my job to get back to them and either talk to the person that’s being abused or work through that concerned person. This could involve the RCMP if there are guns on the property, or a peace officer, if I don’t feel safe to go into a home by myself. I access anywhere from victim services to RCMP, peace officers or sheriffs, and in all those counties, they are all very supportive,” said Kroeker.
As for the investigation, Kroeker talks with everyone around the abused, to gather as much information as possible surrounding the situation.
“I don’t always talk to the person who’s being abused, because they’re afraid to talk to anyone, but I spend a lot of time with the person who has made the referral. I get all the facts and the statistics, and then I will either go do a home visit or phone the person who’s being abused.
“It’s not really my job to confront the abuser, we leave that to the person who reported it, because that can lead to restraining orders. I help them know how to do those things, but I don’t necessarily confront the abuser because that could be putting my own life at danger,” she says.
Kroeker says there are some cases that are easily resolved, where a frustrated or worn-out caregiver may unintentionally be exhibiting some abusive behaviours.
“Lots of caregivers can become frustrated and sometimes do abusive things not intentionally, but because they’re wore out, and they lash out. That isn’t necessarily classified as abusive situations because it can usually be resolved because people don’t mean to do that.
“Those cases are easy to resolve, as opposed to the consistent, financial abuse where someone says, ‘Give me your bank card and I’ll pay your bills,’ and then pretty soon your bank account is empty.
“Probably 90 per cent of the abuse in our farming area now is financial, where adult children are thinking that they deserve the money before the parents die.
“The financial part is always a big one. It starts, a lot of the time, with something that most elders are not aware of. The power of attorney on your account, when you activate it, and the capacity assessment that doctors make, if your child goes in there and has given their story, they have made the elder look like they’re incapacitated. The attitude can be, if I’m going to get all your land and your money when you die, why don’t I just get it earlier? The sense of entitlement is running rampant in middle aged people,” said Kroeker.
While cases have jumped and calls have increased, Kroeker says the number of undetected or unreported cases is likely quite high.
“I’m sure that this is only the tip of the iceberg. Some don’t know who to tell about suspect abuse, or sometimes you need to get a lawyer and people may not have the money for that,” Kroeker said.
As for some tips and things to watch out for, Kroeker shared some specific indicators that something could be amiss, especially a change in the level of social interaction, where it appears a senior has become quite secluded.
“When an adult child moves back in, look to see if the elder is withdrawn and doesn’t come to social functions anymore. See if that person is not looking well dressed for the climate, or if they are not making eye contact, which they may do if they are getting physically abused. If they are not attending the potlucks, the pancake suppers, and are not visible in your community like they were before, check in.
“If I see somebody whose child has moved in with them, I think, oh, that’s good, they’re looking after them. I may not go over there as much, but my word to them is no, you go just as often, so that when they’re willing to confront the issue, they know they can trust you,” Kroeker said.
While many of Kroeker’s cases come from referrals made by friends and neighbours, her educational presentations can be a place where seniors realize they are being abused.
“Usually, after I give a presentation is when they come forward because they are surprised to know that other people are in the same boat as them.
“I like to do the education and awareness part because that’s where they will ask questions, and they feel safe. I tell them, don’t be afraid to ask any kind of question, because you are certainly not in this alone and you’re not the only person this has ever happened to,” she said.
Kroeker said some of the counties within REAP have received grant funding to begin home visitations with seniors, as abuse may go unreported because the senior is experiencing social isolation.
“Lots of times elders are abused because they let a friend or a person in because they’re lonely. Isolation is a big drawback for seniors, and if they’ve got somebody who’s paying attention to them, by the time they realize it’s not a nice attention, it’s too late,” she said.
Referrals can be made to Loretta Kroeker by calling your local FFCS office.
Kari Janzen
Staff Reporter