March 1st 2011: A Toronto man and his wife will remain in jail for the next 2 weeks. Police discovered the man’s 68-year old mother, who suffers from dementia, lying unconscious in the couple’s garage. She had apparently been living there for 4 months with no heat, running water or proper bathroom facilities. It is also suspected she didn’t have enough to eat. The couple is charged with negligence causing bodily harm and failure to provide the necessities of life.

According to Susan Eng, this case proves the federal government needs to change the Criminal Code to better deal with cases of elder abuse. Eng is the vice-president of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons. She is urging stiffer penalties and more assistance for victims of elder abuse. To listen to Susan Eng’s interview with CBC Radio, please click here

Keywords: elder, abuse