The Canadian Centre for Elder Law and FAIR Canada released a joint report that offers 6 recommendations to encourage and support the investment industry to better protect vulnerable investors against exploitation and financial abuse.
Vulnerable Investor Protective Action and Legal Safe Harbour Project which led to the release of this report "considers the development of a conduct protocol and a practical mechanism that will allow Canadian financial services firms and investment advisors to take urgent, short-term protective action for the benefit of vulnerable consumers. This project will ensure that the consumer has their self-determination respected, including the right to make ill-advised or risky decisions, while exploring the balancing of individual vulnerable consumers’ rights to privacy."
Source: Canadian Centre for Elder Law
Highlights
A Vancity survey, conducted by the Mustel Group, of people aged 65 or older in Metro Vancouver and the Capital Regional District reveals that:
- More than one-third (35%) of seniors who experience at least one type of financial abuse choose not to tell anyone
- One-fifth (21%) of seniors who experienced financial abuse and did not report it say it was because they didn’t know who to tell.
- Of those respondents who say they did not report incidences of abuse, 15% were embarrassed by thesituation and 10% feared it would make the situation worse or result in retaliation.
- More than 80% of survey respondents could not name any support services available for seniors who maybe victims of financial abuse.
- There is a large gap between unprompted reports of financial abuse (3%) and reported abuse when respondents are presented with specific scenarios (36%), indicating many seniors may not understand theways in which they may be victims.
Source: Vancity
''At a time of unpredictable challenges for health, whether from a changing climate, emerging infectious diseases, or the next microbe that develops drug resistance, one trend is certain: the ageing of populations is rapidly accelerating worldwide. For the first time in history, most people can expect to live into their 60s and beyond. The consequences for health, health systems, their workforce and budgets are profound. The World report on ageing and health responds to these challenges by recommending equally profound changes in the way health policies for ageing populations are formulated and services are provided. As the foundation for its recommendations, the report looks at what the latest evidence has to say about the ageing process, noting that many common perceptions and assumptions about older people are based on outdated stereotypes.''
Source: World Health Organization (2015)
''Older women from around the world have spoken out about their human rights in a new report launched by HelpAge International on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (15 June).
Entitled to the same rights focuses on older women's right to non-discrimination and equality, and their right to freedom from violence, abuse and neglect, reflecting the themes of discussion at the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing in July 2017.
Women from across 19 countries and in varying social and economic situations reported abuse, discrimination in different areas of their lives, including employment, healthcare and accessing financial services.''
Source: Help Age International
Rural and Northern Community Response to Intimate Partner Violence - Report for Territorial Stakeholders January 2017
''This report proposes an Action Plan that is specific for the Northwest Territories to encourage residents and communities within the NWT to become non-violent communities. It will require a collaborative and coordinated effort from government, community leaders, service providers and community members to reach this goal. This report will a valuable tool to help raise awareness and guide resources towards reducing IPV in the Northwest Territories.''
Source: University of Regina
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