Seniors will learn that No Is An Answer during a special presentation on Friday during World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Organized by the Red Deer Co-ordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse, the event runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre, at 4620 476th Ave. Admission is free.
Counsellors with Family Services of Central Alberta will lead the discussion.
Monica Morrison, Golden Circle executive director, said financial abuse is the most common form of abuse that seniors experience.
“That’s access to bank accounts, credit cards, ATM machine cards, and also there’s been people signing over the house with the understanding that they can live there. Then when the transaction is done it’s — sorry you can’t live here anymore,” Morrison said.
She said it can be problem for seniors with large pieces of property worth a lot of money in rural Alberta.
On Friday seniors will learn how to become comfortable with ways to protect themselves, their finances and property, she said.
“It takes some work. But we figure we need to start planting the seed so people can take back their life because that happens a lot.
“I really encourage people to come out for coffee and cake and get some information.”
Morrison said this year the event returns to the Golden Circle which is a natural place for seniors to gather. Last year it was held in the community and attendance was low.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was established by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse on June 15, 2006 and in 2011 the United Nations officially recognized the day.
Since its inception, organizations and governments around the world have held events to raise awareness of elder abuse.