Seniors: anti-bullying workshop

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Des Collines Seniors’ Services anti-bullying workshop
Carl Hager

 MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – The Des Collines Seniors’ Services group, in conjunction with Autonhomme of Campbell’s Bay, held a workshop at the Luskville Community Centre, October 10, on the bullying of seniors.

Mara McCallum, executive assistant to the director of Senior Services, chaired the workshop, which is being offered throughout the communities the organization serves to help people understand bullying doesn’t just occur with children; it happens to seniors too.

She focused on ways to identify and respond to bullying of seniors, although identifying it isn’t always easy because seniors are often too embarrassed to tell a third party. Abuse takes many forms: financial, physical threats, depriving of necessities like medication or food, abandonment, psychological stress, etc.

Jean Paulin of Autohomme assisted with the presentation. Autonhomme focuses on the welfare of men in need of urgent relief because of unemployment, addiction, or health, with four emergency shelter rooms available. Paulin said his group’s community involvement includes doing income tax preparations for low-income citizens. Paulin said he works with any group that can help with finding shelter, food and health resources for clients in need.

In his role with Senior Services, Gilles Lavigne intervenes whenever and wherever help is needed by seniors. He noted those 70 and older who have lived in their residence for ten years or more are not allowed to be evicted by law. One of the biggest needs of seniors is finding help with cleaning their living spaces.

Discussions included the idea that Senior Friendly Municipalities should find more ways to help seniors, since they’re the closest level of government to them.

McCallum said her organization is ready to help any group that wants to hear and learn more about this aspect of senior life.

Photo – Gilles Lavigne, Mara McCallum and Jean Paulin offered a workshop at the Luskville Community Centre on the topic of the bullying of seniors, October 10. (CH)