Respect Aging: Preventing Violence against Older Persons

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Respect AgingPreventing Violence against Older
Persons

• 1. RECOGNITION
• 2. PREVENTION
• 3. INTERVENTION

Violence Prevention Initiative
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In this session

• The Violence Prevention Continuum
• Intervention approaches and supportive
  legislation
• Barriers and risks in reporting
• Helpful resources
• Links to more information

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• Recap
• Violence definition
• Violence against older persons

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Why not call it elder abuse?

• Abuse is only one part of the continuum of
  violence
• Ageist attitudes
• Aboriginal perspective

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Violence prevention principles

• Right to safe, secure environment
• Rooted in inequality
• Expressed through the isms
• Violence is a choice
• Violence is preventable
• Everyones responsibility

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Violence Prevention Continuum
1. Short-Term Emergency Relief Strategies
2. Capacity-Building Strategies
3. Systems Change Strategies
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Canadian intervention approaches and practices

• Adult protection legislation
• Advocacy
• Community response networks
• Consultation teams
• Counseling
• Continued

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Canadian intervention approaches and practices

• Hotline
• Information and education
• Multi-disciplinary teams
• Peer support and advocacy
• Shelters, safe houses

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It takes a community

• Violence against older persons requires
  coordination and collaboration among agencies,
  community groups, governments and individuals.

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Legislative interventions
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Federal laws

• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• The Criminal Code of Canada

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Provincial laws

• Human Rights Act
• Mental Health Care Treatment Act
• Family Violence Prevention Act
• Advanced Health Care Directives Act
• Enduring Powers of Attorney Act

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Provincial laws

• An Act Respecting the Protection of Adults
• Adult Protection Act replaces the Neglected
  Adults Welfare Act

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Provincial services

• Victim Services
• Legal Aid
• Peace Bond
• Emergency Protection Order

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• FACT
• Most of the violence that is committed against
  older persons in Canada does not get
  reported.

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Barriers to reportingBarriers faced by older
persons
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Barriers faced by older persons

• Fear of
• more violence
• loss of affection
• loss of connection
• what will happen to me?
• what will happen to him/her?

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More barriers to reporting

• Shame, humiliation
• Self-blame
• Being seen as weak
• Concerns about family honour

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More barriers to reporting

• Past negative experience
• Exposure to family violence
• Poverty
• Medication issues
• Communication challenges
• Unaware of human rights

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Cultural and language barriers

• Fear of deportation
• Dependency on perpetrator
• Isolation
• Limited English skills
• Limited access to translators
• Cultural perceptions of violence
• Mistrust of authority
• Cultural values on disclosure

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Isolation as a barrier

• Geographical isolation
• Limited community resources
• No privacy

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Barriers to reporting Barriers faced by helpers
and witnesses
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Barriers faced by helpers and witnesses

• Lack of knowledge, education and training
• Time
• Fear
• Perception of lack of power

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Reducing the Barriersthe 3 As

1. ACTIVE listening and reassurance
2. ASK what the older person wants
3. ACT according to the older persons
   wishes

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1. ACTIVE listening reassurance

• Create a safe environment
• Listen carefully
• Provide as much time as needed
• Reassure not to blame
• Its not their fault!

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2. ASK what the older person wants

• What do you want to do?
• Help with informed decisions
• Provide info on
• Options
• Steps in making a report
• Support, resources

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3. ACT according to the older persons wishes

• Act on wishes
• Follow up
• Avoid judgments
• Provide support

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Helpful Resources

• 24-hour crisis lines
• Provincial resources, including
• Key contacts in regional health authorities
• Director of Neglected Adults
• Violence Prevention Initiative
• Regional resources
• Organized according to regions served by VPI
  Regional Coordinating Committees against Violence
• National resources
• Federal government

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Helpful for Whom?

• Service provider to older victims of violence
• An older person who is a victim of violence
• An older person at risk of violence
• A perpetrator of violence
• Someone with the potential to become violent
• Anybody concerned about someone in any of the
  above situations

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My Important ContactsA tool for those who may be
at risk
Sample section
Emergency Responders and Other Important Contacts Emergency Responders and Other Important Contacts
Police Contact Name Phone Number Date File Number Notes
Shelter/Safe House Shelter Name Contact Name Phone Number Notes
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Links

• The last section of the Manual is called Links.
• Provides a list of Internet resources (website
  addresses).
• Further exploration of the topics covered in the
• Respect Aging Training Program.