Seniors lobby group wants elder abuse added to the Criminal Code

TORONTO – A senior’s lobby group is calling on the federal government to add the offence of elder abuse to the Criminal Code.

The call from CARP comes as Toronto police allege a 68-year-old woman was made to live in a freezing garage in squalid conditions for four months.

The woman’s son and daughter-in-law face charges of failing to provide the necessaries of life and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

They were remanded in custody this morning.

Besides making elder abuse a specific crime, CARP is calling for a hotline to report abuse and increased support for victims.

It’s also calling for duty-to-report protocols similar to those for child and spousal abuse cases.