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Your LOCAL Media since 1918! Volume 106 Issue 23
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Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Crews work fast after snowfall
Rural elder abuse cases jump by 50% Kari Janzen Staff Reporter
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 said. 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 educa-
Town of Tofield public works staff were quickly clearing the streets after Sunday's snowfall on Monday, February 5, pictured here on main street. Kari Janzen photo. tion 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 Continued on Page 7
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