CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF AN ELDER ABUSE INTERVENTION HELPLINE

(QUEBEC, CANADA)

Michèle Charpentier, PhD.Professor, School of Social Work, University of Quebec in Montreal

Maryse Soulières, MSWResearch Assistant and Trainer, Elder Abuse Helpline (LAAA)

Agnès Noubicier, MSWResearch Assistant, Elder Abuse Helpline (LAAA)

IFA – 11th Global Conference on AgeingIFA – 11th Global Conference on AgeingPrague, May 28th to June 1st 2012Prague, May 28th to June 1st 2012

•Elder Abuse in Quebec (Canada)

•Elder Abuse Intervention Helpline (LAAA)

•Research Process

•Statistics from the LAAA

•Issues and Challenges

•Clinical relevance of the LAAA

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

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Very rapidly aging population

Ministerial Action Plan on Elder Abuse (2010-2015), which recognizes elder abuse as a societal priority

Sensitization campaign Research center on elder abuseRegional coordinators for elder abuse Provincial Elder Abuse Intervention

Helpline (LAAA)

ELDER ABUSE IN QUEBEC (Canada)

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The LAAA was implemented on October 1st 2010

Opening hours: 7 days/week, from 8:00am to 8:00pm

Services offered by professionals (social workers or equivalent)

Accessible to anyone concerned about a situation or potential situation involving elder abuse Seniors, family members, friends,

witnesses Professional workers

ELDER ABUSE INTERVENTION HELPLINE (LAAA)

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RESEARCH PROCESS

• Co-construction of scientific and clinical knowledge (2 year process), involving researchers from 3 universities and clinicians from the LAAA

• Literature review, development of tools and models

• Quantitative and qualitative analysis

• Final Research Report (March 2012) • Statistical portrait of calls• Qualitative analysis of calls

– Calls presenting a high risk level– Calls referred to the public health and social

service system– Calls made by ‘victims’ aged 90 and older

STATISTICS FROM THE LAAA

• A total of 4 879 calls were received during the first year of operation of the LAAA (initial predictions estimated around 3, 000 calls a year)

– About 10% of those calls were out of mandate (not related to elder abuse) and were referred to the appropriate services when possible

– Another 10% were calls requesting general information on the LAAA or on elder abuse (calls from students, journalists, etc.)

WHO IS CALLING? WHO IS THE ‘VICTIM’?

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CALLER’S IDENTITY:

•About a third of the calls were made by seniors claiming to be victims of abuse.

•Another third of the calls were made by family members.

WHO IS THE ‘VICTIM’?

•Nearly 70% of the calls involved situations in which the alleged victim was a woman.

•More than 40% of the calls concerned alleged victims aged 80 and older.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALLEGED ‘VICTIM’ AND ‘ABUSER’

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•In nearly 35% of the calls, the situation of alleged maltreatment involved the adult child of the senior.

•In almost 50% of the calls, the alleged ‘abuser’ was a family member (spouse, child or other).Adult

ChildSpouse Other

family member

Friend, neighbour

34,5% 5% 8,5% 8,5%

TYPES OF ABUSE

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•The majority of the calls involved financial abuse (33%) and psychological abuse (31%).

0%

10%

20%

30%

40% Physical

Psychological

Financial

Sexual

Systemic

Rights violation

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

• Monitoring urgent calls– Knowing when to involve emergency services– Following up

• References to the public health and social service system and other resources– Finding the community resources– Making efficient references

• Callers with a mental health profile– Recognizing their vulnerability to abuse

CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF THE LAAA

• Fight against elder abuse : empowerment of seniors and their families:– Number of calls largely exceeding initial

expectations – Myth of the silent and passive victim:

intervention model based on empowerment.

• Development of clinical expertise in elder abuse intervention– Specialized service with continuous training

and clinical support– Clinical impact of the LAAA’s interventions

CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF THE LAAA

Telephone Intervention in Elder Abuse:

• Accessible (seven days a week, from own home)

• Less intrusive, allowing for anonymity (reduces hesitation, suspicion and anxiety when asking for help)

• Particularly suited for callers who are suspicious or very hesitant, who have anxiety disorders, physical and psychological limitations, who have difficulty accessing regular services, etc.

Under the direction of:•Michèle Charpentier, PhD.•Maryse Soulières, MSW

Authors:•Daniel Thomas, PhD.•Lyse Montminy, PhD.•Sylvie Bouchard, SW•Marick Bertrand, clinical supervisor LAAA•Claire-Joane Chrysostome, Coordinator LAAA•Agnès Florette Noubicier, research assistant

Available in French at www.ligneaideabusaines.ca

RESEARCH REPORT

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