BARRHEAD - Town of Barrhead council proclaimed June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAD) during its June 5 meeting.
WEAD is an official United Nations International Day acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue.
However, Coun. Rod Klumph said that while he supported the purpose of the day, he voted against the municipality proclaiming it, suggesting that the day's proximity to Father's Day sends the wrong message.
Healthy Families Healthy Futures elder abuse navigator Michelle Melnyk asked that the municipality proclaim the day as part of a presentation on the organization's Community Response and Elder Abuse and Safe Spaces Initiative.
Klumph's vote was the only one against the town making the proclamation.
"I wonder why [World Elder Abuse Awareness Day] is on June 15, Father's Day," he said. "I think that is a bit repugnant, connecting it with abuse. It is a day when families get together and honour their fathers, and now there is a negative cloud over it."
He added that, based on everything he had read, the presence of an "active, loving, nurturing father" provides only a positive influence on a child's development.
"I would think that anything that would detract from celebrating would be discouraged," Klumph said, suggesting that the date for World Elder Abuse Day be moved to another date so as not to conflict with Father's Day. "I have no problem with the proclamation itself. Your work is important; it is just the date, and it conflicting with Father's Day that bothers me."
Melnyk agreed with Klumph that the overlap was an unfortunate coincidence but said there was not much she or Healthy Families Healthy Futures could do about it as the day is static.
The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations launched the day in 2006. The United Nations General Assembly recognized it in 2011 to represent a global commitment to understanding, preventing, and responding to the abuse and neglect of older adults.
Klumph then suggested that Healthy Families, Healthy Futures incorporate "Alberta culture" and create a similar day to raise awareness about elder abuse issues specific to the province instead of following an "international program".
Melynk said she would pass on Klumph's suggestion to the Alberta Elder Abuse Council, which was first formed in 2002 and consists of a group of Albertans dedicated to increasing awareness and supporting a community response to elder abuse.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
