With Alberta’s seniors population continuing to grow in 2025, ensuring that the province’s elder residents are protected from abuse remains in everyone’s best interest.
And, as with other populations such as children and youth, keeping seniors safe requires a community-wide, multi-stakeholder effort.
Jason Nixon is the province’s minister of Assisted Living and Social Services and the Sundre-area MLA.
“Seniors are valued members of our communities and deserve to be treated as such,” Nixon said during World Elder Abuse Day 2025 (June 15). “Ending elder abuse requires collective action. All Albertans have a role to play in recognizing the signs of abuse and taking action to spot it, stop it, and reduce the risk.
“As Alberta’s senior population continues to grow, Alberta’s government remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring every Albertan senior can live with dignity, security and free from harm.”
The province estimates that one in 10 Alberta seniors will face some form of abuse in 2025 – a shocking and wholly unacceptable level of mistreatment.
For his part, Nixon calls the current elder abuse situation “an unacceptable reality Alberta’s government is determined to change.”
Working with community partners, the government has invested $8 million over the next two year to implement the Elder Abuse Prevention Strategy, strengthen initiatives such as the Coordinated Community Response Program, and grow the Safe Spaces Program, which provides shelter access for seniors in rural and Indigenous communities by repurposing vacant rooms in seniors’ lodges.
Joanne Blinco, executive director of the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, says all Albertans can become “advocates for the safety and well-being of seniors by learning the signs of elder abuse.
“Raising awareness is essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of older adults,” she said. “Our partnership with the government of Alberta has strengthened community responses across the province, helping to prevent abuse and build a future where all seniors are treated with dignity and respect.”
If you know of someone who is an elder abuse victim, call 911.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan
