Elder Abuse Response Team

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Elder Abuse Response Team
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Partnership

• The Elder Abuse Response Team
• Detective Mike Payne, WRPS
• Elizabeth Nieson, RN Elder Abuse Resource
  Consultant, WW CCAC
• elderabuse._at_wrps.on.ca
• 519-579-4607

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Partner Roles CCAC

• provide coordination, information about services
  and options
• providing consultation on cases
• working with officer to respond, advocate and
  provide intervention services
• provide intake and assessment role
• facilitate a forum for case review
• facilitating referrals to Restorative Justice
• community development, raising awareness

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Partner Roles Police

• provide a Detective/Cst
• conduct criminal investigations
• ensure confidential police information is shared
  appropriately
• liaise with crown attorney
• facilitate referrals to Restorative Justice,
  Victim Service, VWAP
• identify gaps in services
• partner with others in the community
• raising awareness and community development

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Supporting Documents

• Memorandum of Understanding
• Sharing of information (PHIPA, Freedom of
  Information and Protection Act
• Agreement between CCAC and WRPS
• Elder Abuse Response Team Protocol
• Supports operating principles and key values
  (respond to elder abuse by working in partnership
  and providing an opportunity for change and
  healing, thereby enhancing the safety and
  well-being of older adults)

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Elder Abuse - Definition

• Elder abuse is the mistreatment of an elderly
  person by someone that they should be able to
  rely on a spouse, a child, another family
  member, a friend, or a paid caregiver.
• Senate Committee Report on Aging, 2009 Canadas
  Aging Population Seizing the Opportunity

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Key Values

• working in partnership with the community
• safety
• confidentiality
• dignity and respect
• autonomy
• access to information to make meaningful
  decisions
• least restrictive interventions

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Victim directed Intervention

• Incapable
• evidence of
• Power of Attorney
• Substitute Decision Maker
• advocate on behalf of older adult
• Public Guardian and Trustee

• Capable
• follow direction of older adult
• options and referrals to supports
• involvement of other family/services

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Benefits of Partnership

• information sharing
• Police history of calls for service knowledge
  of provinicial and federal statues
• CCAC obtaining and understanding medical
  information access to CCAC documentation for
  clients at risk partnership with community
  programs
• information shared based PHIPA and Police Service
  Act and other privacy legislation

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Benefits of Partnership continued

1. collection and dissemination of data
2. wider range of options presented to victim in one
   visit
3. direct referral to EART and
4. direct referral to community support services
5. shared education and initiatives that aid in the
   reduction of elder abuse

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EART - Call source

• EART is direct referral
• mandate to raise awareness
• abuse recognized by family and professionals
• victims need support to seek help

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Family Violence ProjectWaterloo Region

• SA/DV Treatment Centre
• CFCC Counselling Services
• Community Action Program for Children
• EART
• Victim Services
• WRPS Domestic Violence
• Family and Children Services
• Womens Crisis Services of Waterloo Region
• Credit Counselling CFCC
• Crown Attorney

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Joint Investigation

• safety (emergency housing option)
• determine offence (facts in issue)
• background (investigative and intelligence, CCAC,
  medical)
• mobile obtainment of statements (audio/video)
• interview of caregivers, physicians, community
  services
• obtain statements (witnesses)
• obtain relevant documents (POA, Dr., health care
  professional assessments)

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Possible Dispositions

• charges laid traditional court process
• diversion to restorative justice (Community
  Justice Initiatives)
• referral to community agencies (CCAC community
  geriatric program SW victim services community
  support connections circles of care volunteers)
• advocating for assessments (hospital family
  physician)
• advocating for support from informal caregivers

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Case Studies

• Questions ?