Family violence against seniors in Canada has surged to a record high, as per the latest report from Statistics Canada. The national rate of family violence against seniors has surged by 49% since 2018, with senior victims most commonly victimized by their children, and around a quarter by a spouse or another family member. In 2024, there were 7,622 senior victims of police-reported family violence nationwide.
Alexandra Lysova, a criminology professor at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, expressed concern over the rise in elder abuse, highlighting that while seniors are less likely to be victimized in family relationships compared to younger individuals, the issue of elder abuse warrants serious attention as the senior population grows.
Serious risk factors for older adults such as cognitive decline and physical frailty increase the likelihood of victimization by family members, according to Lysova. Economic challenges, stress, and intergenerational communication dynamics contribute to the vulnerability of seniors in Canada.
Police-reported data may not capture all instances of abuse, as many incidents go unreported due to victims not deeming the issue serious enough or feeling shame. Changes in how police record data on senior violence since 2018 may have contributed to the reported increase.
In British Columbia, the Seniors First B.C. hotline has seen a notable increase in calls related to physical, financial, and emotional abuse. Executive director Marie-Noël Campbell noted a concerning rise in physical assaults against older adults and emphasized the importance of watching for signs of abuse and changes in seniors’ behavior.
B.C. seniors advocate Dan Levitt highlighted the societal issue of ageism and the importance of being vigilant for signs of elder abuse, urging loved ones to pay attention to lifestyle changes in seniors that could indicate potential abuse.
