Saskatoon Council on Aging Older Adult Abuse Task Force

1. Saskatoon Council on Aging Older Adult Abuse Task Force Older Adult Abuse Prevention Initiatives Elliot PausJenssen, volunteer coordinator

2. Saskatoon Council on Aging (1991) Community based organization dedicated to the promotion of dignity, health, and independence of older adults. Over 1200 members - older adults and people who work with older adults A board driven organization Older adults in key roles No core funding: dependence on grants

3. 2 Main Functions of SCOA • Resource Centre (phone, drop-in, now web) • Handled 7359 requests in 2008 • Caregiver information and support Centre • Monthly drop-in program for older adults • Monthly free blood pressure clinic • Work with local agencies to initiate, implement and evaluate projects useful to older adults in our community

4. Abuse of the Elderly 1st major issue SCOA addressed, early 90’s • Development of Protocol for use by health and community agencies when older adult abuse is suspected • Financial abuse project • study of responses of local financial institutions to suspected financial abuse • financial abuse pamphlet for older adults

5. Isolation 2nd major project SCOA addressed Isolation Project with 4 pilot projects • 3 community day programs continue today • shuttle service discontinued in 1996 but lessons learned have been useful in development of special needs transportation in Saskatoon

6. A key strength of the Saskatoon Council on Aging Some of the health and community agency staff who worked with the Saskatoon Council on Aging on the Abuse of the Elderly and Isolation projects in the 1990’s are now older adults and key players on the Council Board and Older Adult Abuse Task Force

7. Older Adult Abuse Task Force • Formed in March 2005 • Ad hoc committee of the SCOA reporting to the SCOA Board • Part-time coordinator for first few months • Volunteer driven

8. Goals of the Task Force • Increase the awareness of all types of older adult abuse • Address issues faced by older adults living in care situations and by the operators and staff providing care • Advocate for policies that promote prevention of older adult abuse and improve responses to suspected abuse • Advocate that systemic abuse of low income seniors who are in need of care be addressed

9. 3 Working Groups 3 Areas of Focus Working Groups • World Older Adult Abuse Awareness Day • Older Adults in Care • Legal and Financial Issues Areas of Focus • Awareness and Education • Program development • Advocacy and Policy

10. Awareness and EducationWorld Older Adult Abuse Awareness Day • workshops, media coverage • Older Adult Abuse, Judith Wahl, Executive Director, Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, Toronto, 2006 • Older Adult Abuse in Saskatchewan, “Blueprint for Action,” Ron Kruzeniski, Public Guardian and Trustee of Saskatchewan, 2007 • Financial Abuse, “Dollars and Sense: Protect Yourself,” 2008 • “Building communication within the Circle of Care” Working together towards abuse free care environments for older adults, 2009

11. Awareness and EducationAgeism • “Ageism: It Does Matter,” Geriatric Grand Rounds & Social Work Week talks, Saskatoon Health Region, 2009 • Keynote address at AGM of Jubilee Residences, Inc. Saskatoon, 2009 • Saskatoon Council on Aging AGM, 2009 • Invitational lectures: College of Medicine, College of Law, School of Social Work, 2009 • Series of 3 articles in SCOA’s monthly column Prime of Life in The Saskatoon Sun, a weekly newspaper

12. Awareness and EducationOlder Adult Abuse Task Force • RESOLVE Conference, Saskatoon, Nov. 2006 “Research and education for solutions to violence and abuse” • Federal Provincial Territorial Elder Abuse Working Forum, Vancouver, Nov. 2007 “Advocacy” • Grand Rounds in Saskatoon Health Region, February, 2008 “ Older Adult Abuse Task Force” • United Against Elder Abuse, Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism Conference, Regina, May, 2009 “Saskatoon Council on Aging Inc: Older Adult Abuse Prevention Efforts” • World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Saskatoon Indian Metis Friendship Centre, June 15, 2009

13. Addressing educational needs of caregivers in private care home sector in Saskatoon • Senior nursing students surveyed workers in smallest personal care homes (10 residents or less) about information needs re caring for residents preferred method of delivery • Identified topics included dementia, heart and stroke, diabetes, nutrition • Preferred method of delivery – written materials in binder • Students prepared information on the identified topics in written form and delivered it to participating care homes • Means of continuing this program are being explored

14. Education of Older Adults Looking to the future….. BCCEAS “Legal Issues for Seniors: A Training Module” in Saskatchewan? Pro Bono law students • reviewed relevant Saskatchewan legislation in 2008-09 • prepare powerpoint presentations and deliver educational sessions to older adults in 2009-10 • SCOA will review and consider train the trainer workshops for older adults

15. Program Development • Volunteer visitor program to isolated residents of personal care homes • funding and sustainability are issues Task Force and potential partners have been unable to resolve at this time

16. Advocacy and Policy DevelopmentTrained staff & Abuse Prevention • Increased educational requirements and opportunities for operators of privately owned personal care homes and staff • discussions with • personal care home operators • teachers of required 16 hour personal care course • personal care home consultants • advocacy with Ministers • Request to Saskatoon Health Region that training sessions for special care home staff be opened to personal care home staff (agreed to)

17. Advocacy and Policy Protection for Persons in Care • Legislation for protection of persons in care • We have advocated with previous and current Ministers of Health • Pro Bono Law Student reviewed Protection for Persons in Care legislation in Manitoba and protection available to persons in care in Saskatchewan • We shared that review and our views with current Minister of Health

18. Advocacy and Policy Older Adults Living at Risk • Older adults with low incomes and intermediate care needs who “fall between the cracks” and live at risk • Article in Coming of Age, SCOA publication • Letters and article sent to all MLA’s • Meetings with previous and current Ministers and Opposition critics • Advocacy for subsidies to individuals • Advocacy for aging in place and for affordable, inclusive housing with supports for older adults

19. Advocacy and PolicyOlder Adults with Low Incomes Advocacy Committee, SCOA • Recommendations to Saskatoon City Council to helpolder adults with low incomes continue to live in their homes • property tax increase deferral program • tax abatements for assessment increases arising from improvements to principal residence to accommodate age-related impairments and disabilities

20. Advocacy and Policy Seniors’ Issues are a government priority • 15.4% of Saskatchewan’s population is 65 and older • Advocacy for a seniors strategy emphasizing positive images of aging • Advocacy for seniors’ secretariat

21. Policy DevelopmentHealth Region Seniors Strategy • Working with Saskatoon Health Region regarding older adult abuse and the Region’s seniors strategy • 2 members on seniors advisory committee of seniors strategy

22. Advocacy and Policy Financial Abuse of Older Adults SCOA sent written submission to Industry Canada regarding response of financial institutions to suspected financial abuse

23. Network building within Saskatoon and area • Use of community development approach • invitations to agencies in different sectors • focus on strengthening relationships among service providers, police and older adults • consultation and dialogue • responding to identified needs • Involvement of older adults in key roles • Working to develop an inventory of services provided by organizations involved with various aspects of older adult abuse

24. Networking building within the province United Against Elder Abuse Conference, May, 2009 • 1st opportunity for groups from across the province to meet in person • 1st occasion to meet national leaders and learn what is happening elsewhere in Canada • hosted by the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism, umbrella organization of Saskatchewan seniors’ groups, with New Horizons for Seniors funding

25. An introduction to other agencies in Saskatchewan • Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism • Prince Albert and Area Community Against Family Violence • Seniors’ Education Centre, University of Regina • South West Council on Aging • S.T.O.P.S to Violence

26. Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism • Mission is to contribute to a better quality of life for Saskatchewan seniors • Member organizations • Seniors serving organizations (SK Seniors Fitness Association; SK Seniors Association Inc.; Federation des Aines Fransaskois; Senior Power; Women of the Dawn; Regina Senior Citizens Centre Inc.; Seniors Education Centre, University of Regina; Saskatoon Council on Aging) • Retirees Associations

27. Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism and Major Elder Abuse Projects • Elder Abuse Protocol and Resource Directory, 2004 • Busy Bee Networks (Seniors Friendship Program) 2007 • ABC’s of Fraud • Teaching through Drama: Fraud Awareness Toolkit for Seniors – under development

28. Prince Albert and Area Community Against Family Violence • Program of PA Co-operative Health Centre and PA Health Region • Works to eliminate violence in relationships and families • CAPV “provides a way for individuals and organizations to develop innovative, preventative and educational actions to achieve a violence-free society.”

29. CAPV Elderly Abuse Prevention Committee • Annual Elderly Abuse Prevention week • Seniors Trade Show, 2005 and Spotlight on Seniors 11, 2008 • One year research contract 2005 • survey of older adults’ attitudes to older adult abuse • protocol • Awareness and education sessions • Advocacy for seniors’ advocate position

30. Seniors Education Centre, University of Regina Involved in older adult abuse since the late 1980’s • Development and updating Abuse of Older Adults Awareness Module • Presentations on older adult abuse to RCMP Cadets, Saskatchewan Police College, seniors organizations

31. With New Horizons funding the Seniors Education Centre is developing • specific presentations for service providers (police, health professionals, social workers), and for older adults and others • handouts for presentations • messages and materials for public awareness campaigns

32. South West Council on Aging • Member agencies and seniors work together to proactively promote the dignity, health and independence of older persons residing in Southwest Saskatchewan • Volunteers, no staff • No funding • “Building a safe community for seniors” workshop • Working on protocol for response to suspected abuse of older adults

33. STOPS to Violence • Provincial organization dedicated to supporting partnerships with individuals, communities, organizations and governments • STOPS process based on guiding principles of inclusion, trust, consensus decision making and shared leadership • Community Connections Plan • Tools toward a coordinated, consistent, effective community based response to interpersonal violence and abuse • Easy to use process to enable people to intervene and to handle verbal disclosure

34. A large step forward in Saskatchewan • Local conversations on abuse of older adults are now occurring at a provincial level • There is recognition of the need for collaboration • That now is the time • And we are the people