Respect

agingRespect Aging:

Preventing Violence against Older Persons

1. RECOGNITION2. 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

• Everyone’s responsibility

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GOVERNMENTSERVICES

LEGISLATION TOOLS

APPROACHES

PRACTICES

INTERVENTION

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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 reporting:Barriers faced by older persons

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• Fear of…

• more violence

• loss of affection

• loss of connection

• “what will happen to me”?

• “what will happen to him/her?”

Barriers faced by older persons

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• Shame, humiliation

• Self-blame

• Being seen as weak

• Concerns about family “honour”

More barriers to reporting

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• Past negative experience

• Exposure to family violence

• Poverty

• Medication issues

• Communication challenges

• Unaware of human rights

More barriers to reporting

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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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• Lack of knowledge, education and training

• Time

• Fear

• Perception of lack of power

Barriers faced by helpers and witnesses

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Reducing the Barriers:the “3 A’s”

1. ACTIVE listening and reassurance

2. ASK what the older person wants

3. ACT according to the older person’s 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

• It’s 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 person’s 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

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:

Sample section

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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.