Elder abuse, or the abuse of older adults, is often defined as any act or lack of action  which harms a senior or jeopardizes his or her health or welfare. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines abuse of older adults as:

Elder abuse can take the form of:

Neglect

Physical abuse

Sexual abuse

Psychological abuse

Financial abuse.

It is estimated that between four and ten per cent of seniors experience some type of abuse.

Victims of elder abuse may show signs of:

For more detailed information on what constitutes Elder  Abuse and the signs and symptoms, please see (links to Signs & Symptoms of Elder Abuse Page).

If you or someone you know has been abused or is experiencing abuse, you are not alone:

A list of provincial elder abuse resources is available in the

"What You Need to Know about Elder Abuse: Information Sheet"

available at

www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/seniors

The Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, Ministry of the Attorney General are partnering with the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA) to implement the Ontario government’s five-year, $4.3 million Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse.

The Strategy, the first of its kind in Canada, focuses on three key priorities:

ONPEA’s regional consultants have been designated across the province as key channels to justice and community service providers and to existing and new coordinating committees addressing elder abuse throughout Ontario.

Provincial Multicultural Coordinator
416-978-0545

Regional Consultants:

The Victim Support Line is a province-wide, toll-free information line funded by the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, providing a range of services in English and French to victims of crime. Trained information counsellors are available to provide information and referral services on elder abuse.

For general ministry information, visit www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/seniors or call

Seniors' InfoLine
Toll-free: 1-888-910-1999
TTY: 1-800-387-5559

"Elder abuse can take place in the home, in a residential setting or in the community. Abusers can often be family members, friends, staff, or individuals in positions of trust or authority," Bradley said. "Our government is committed to shedding light on this important issue, and to encouraging Ontarians to stand up for the rights of seniors."

The theme of 2006 conference is Ontario Without Elder Abuse: Journey into the Future. Presenters from across Canada showcased innovative community approaches to prevent elder abuse. More than 350 delegates including front-line community workers, professionals, seniors, volunteers, and representatives from the health, social services and justice sectors were in attendance.

"We will not tolerate individuals who mistreat or take advantage of vulnerable seniors," said Michael Bryant, Ontario’s Attorney General. "I am pleased to support this worthwhile conference, which will help professionals and volunteers in the field to build upon the fine work already being done in local communities."

Bill Ryan, Chair of the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse said, "We envision a future where our seniors are treated with respect and dignity. That’s why we are pleased to be working with the Ontario government to implement this important strategy."

Since taking office, the McGuinty government has worked hard to support seniors across Ontario, including an increase in funding for Long-Term Care Homes, an increase in funding for Home Care and Community Support Services, and passing legislation to end mandatory retirement.

The Ontario Senior’s Secretariat, the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse have joined forces to implement a five-year strategy to combat elder abuse and jointly sponsor this conference.

Additional information regarding the conference is available at www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/seniors and www.onpea.org.

TORONTO – The Ontario government is providing $459,000 in new funding to combat elder abuse, Minister Responsible for Seniors Jim Bradley announced today. 

"We’re on the side of seniors, and we’re giving them the supports they need to live in safety and with dignity," said Bradley.  

Sixty-one organizations across the province have received one-time grants of $3,000 or $15,000 which they may choose to use for public education or other elder abuse prevention strategies.

According to experts in the field, elder abuse has many forms, the most common of which is financial abuse, and can take place in the home, in a residential setting or in the community.  Abusers may be family members, friends, staff, or other individuals in positions of trust or authority.

The Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat, the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, and the Ministry of the Attorney General have joined forces with communities across the province to implement the province’s $4.3 million, five-year, strategy to combat elder abuse.
 
"Elder abuse has no place in Ontario," stated Bradley.  "We will not tolerate the abuse of our seniors who continue to contribute so much to their families, communities and province."

Other McGuinty government initiatives for seniors include:

Contacts:
David Oved, Minister’s Office, (416) 314-1400
Donna Piasentini, Communications Branch, (416) 314-7242

Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) 2001

Although a universal definition of the term elder abuse does not exist, Health Canada has defined it as "the physical, psychosocial or financial mistreatment of a senior." Physical abuse of an older person can include assault, rough physical treatment, sexual exploitation, or the failure to provide an older person with food, or with appropriate personal, hygienic or medical care. Psychosocial abuse includes verbal abuse, the social isolation, the failure to provide affection, and the denial of the opportunity to make or take part in decisions concerning one’s own life. Financial abuse includes the mishandling of an older persons money or property, and also includes fraud. However, a 1999 report by the Ontario Legislative Assembly adds to this list a number of additional forms of elder abuse including: medication abuse (e.g., the misuse or withholding of medications), the denial of fundamental rights and freedoms, abandonment, and self-neglect.

Financial abuse tends to be most common (62.5%), with verbal and physical abuse second most common (35% and 12.5% respectively) followed by neglect (10%). Submissions received by the Commission highlighted that elder abuse and neglect occur in all contexts; in the home, in hospitals, in long-term care facilities, and in retirement homes.

The Commission heard that approximately 4% or 60,000 of the 1.5 million older persons living in Ontario experience elder abuse. However, many older persons are not willing to report elder abuse because of the social stigma attached to it or because of concern regarding the consequences of reporting a loved one or caregiver. As a result this percentage may be under-estimated.

A number of the submissions highlighted the complex nature of elder abuse. As one group told the Commission, the dependency of older persons upon their caregivers means that abuse inflicted by a caregiver is more difficult to address. The embarrassment experienced by older persons who are abused by their family members and caregivers makes elder abuse a "hidden form of familial abuse" (The Ontario Association of Social Workers). Older persons who are experiencing abuse are often faced with the decision of whether or not to report their abuser, the result of which could mean the loss of their caregiver, making their decision to report that much more difficult (Chatham-Kent CCAC). Others told the Commission panel about the serious dilemma facing older persons who are abused by those for whom they themselves are caring for, wherein the older person’s desire to care for that person conflicts with their own need for safety.

CARP discussed the issue of elder abuse in the context of care facilities. It noted that for those who experience abuse within care facilities, fear can act as a real deterrent to reporting abuse. A number of consultees told the Commission that families may also be too afraid to complain about the abuse of their older relatives because they fear retribution against their loved ones in the form of poorer care or further abuse (ARCH and Karen Henderson). As the Council on Aging noted, the problem of elder abuse is very much like domestic violence and requires a systemic approach to ensure that victims of elder abuse are not further victimized in the process of seeking recourse and in defending their rights.

Several consultees told the Commission of the particular experience of elder abuse faced by Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing older persons. While Deaf seniors experience the same forms of abuse as other seniors (e.g., financial abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, etc.), they also experience communication abuse. The communication barriers faced by Deaf older persons make this group particularly vulnerable to the other various forms of abuse (The Canadian Association of the Deaf). The Canadian Hearing Society provided the Commission with several anecdotal descriptions of situations of communication abuse:

The vulnerability that occurs in the context of elder abuse is heightened for "Deaf-plus" older persons, that is, those who experience hearing impairment in addition to other disabilities such as blindness, Cerebral Palsy or intellectual disabilities. This group of older persons is often the easiest to abuse because they are vulnerable and unlikely to report the occurrence of abuse (The Canadian Association of the Deaf). The Canadian Association of the Deaf emphasized that, "people with this kind of special vulnerability often simply do not know where to go or how to seek assistance, so they endure the abuse as being almost a birthright of "superior" hearing people".

A report by the Canadian Association of the Deaf entitled, "Keeping the Hands in Motion" highlighted the communication barriers faced by "Deaf-plus" older persons. For those who have arthritis in their fingers or hands, the ability to communicate through sign language and writing is limited. Given the importance of vision for Deaf persons in communication, where a person experiences a visual impairment, communication barriers are further compounded. These barriers further exacerbate an older person’s vulnerability in the context of an abusive situation.

Throughout the consultations, organizations emphasized the need for broad public education and awareness building with respect to elder abuse and neglect. Others suggested the need for targeted education, particularly geared toward professionals who work with older persons on a regular basis (i.e., doctors, nurses, social workers, etc.). In addition, a number of consultees called for more education and supports for caregivers.

With respect to Deaf and Deaf-Plus older persons, the Canadian Association of the Deaf suggested that a network of advocates should be set-up to assist Deaf seniors with abuse and neglect-related issues, to protect Deaf seniors from abuse and ensure that they are aware of their rights. Others suggested that more funding should be provided to develop educational programs that could alert Deaf and "Deaf-plus" older persons to the issues of elder abuse and neglect issues and to their rights and to possible mechanisms of recourse.

The Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens’ Organizations told the Commission that elder abuse frequently occurs when primary caregivers experience "burn-out or significant stress". This includes professional caregivers who are facing a growing caseload, as well as complex care responsibilities within the context of an under-funded system of services. This also refers to family caregivers who are expected to provide care for aging relatives in the context of dwindling government services and supports. Reports by Health Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia also support this notion. They both report that elder abuse can result when a caregiver’s stress is exacerbated by a lack of available information and resources about caring for an aging person. Furthermore, a caregiver’s own issues such as unemployment, substance abuse, or personal relationship problems, and unresolved family conflict can contribute to the occurrence of elder abuse.

Submissions noted that many well-intentioned adult children or other caregivers want to make decisions for older persons, especially when they perceive that an older adult cannot make decisions for themselves. However, a number of organizations noted that seniors often lose their rights to self-determination, independence and dignity in the process (Ontario Association of Social Workers and The Canadian Mental Health Association). As Health Canada’s work on elder abuse notes, the denial of the opportunity for an older person to make or take part in decisions concerning his or her own life can be a form of psychosocial abuse. The Canadian Mental Health Association suggested that in order to ensure that an aging person’s rights to independence and dignity remain in tact, widespread public education is needed.

The lack of regulation of privately run care facilities was also noted as a contributor to the vulnerability of older persons to abuse. The need for regulation of privately run care facilities and for standards for all such homes across the province was discussed in the section on

The lack of emergency shelters available for older persons who have experienced abuse was also mentioned as a factor that contributed to elder abuse. The Ottawa-Carleton CCAC told the Commission that existing emergency shelters are often full and tend to address the needs of younger women and children. Such facilities are not appropriate for older persons and options for people suffering abuse by caregivers are limited. Other organizations told the Commission that barriers to accessing shelters include a general lack of knowledge on the part of older persons regarding how to access emergency shelters. Furthermore, language and cultural barriers exist that further limit the accessibility of these facilities. ESAC suggested that temporary shelters should be established to aid older persons and those with disabilities in their transition from an abusive situation to a safe environment. The Ottawa-Carleton CCAC suggested that shelters should exist for both men and women, should be walker and wheelchair accessible and staffed with people who are able to address the complex needs of older persons.

A number of organizations told the Commission about programs to combat abuse of older persons. One such program is Phone Busters, a program implemented by the Ontario Provincial Police. Phone Busters accepts calls from across North America from older persons who have fallen victim to telemarketing fraud. Representatives from Phone Busters told the Commission that, "80 per cent of the people that call Phone Busters are seniors [and] have lost money to telemarketing fraud." Others added that single older women are particularly vulnerable to financial "scams" such as telemarketing fraud. As with other forms of abuse, financial abuse of older persons is under-reported. Phone Busters estimates that, "only one per cent of the losses are actually being reported due to embarrassment and shame on the part of the victim."

"We are teaching them to [regain] their dignity because a lot of [older persons] are embarrassed and will not talk to their family members…If you lost [money], the last thing you would want to do is tell your children…" (Ontario Provincial Police, Phone Busters)

The statistics for the Phone Busters program illustrate that it has been very successful in reducing the dollars lost by older persons who are vulnerable to financial abuse. As a result, the group sought new mechanisms through which further outreach to older persons could occur. The result was a partnership between the Near North CCAC and Phone Busters to implement an elder abuse hotline pilot study. The pilot is aimed at addressing systemic abuse, neglect, physical and psychological abuse of older persons. The Commission was told that the six-month pilot ended early this year and that the Ministry of Citizenship, Seniors’ Secretariat will determine the next steps for the program.

For the first time, June 15, 2006 marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Lead by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), countries around the globe are being asked to support and participate in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to raise awareness of this important issue.

This year’s theme was Active Living: Healthy Living.

Seniors’ Month is an annual celebratory tradition in which the contributions of seniors are acknowledged and honoured throughout the province. Seniors account for approximately 13 per cent of Ontario’s current population. Seniors’ Month events include award ceremonies, recognition events, socials and seniors’ information fairs.

Ontario is one of the best places in the world to grow old. Ontarians across the province are encouraged to join in the celebrations taking place in their local community to recognize and thank older Ontarians who have worked hard and continue to contribute to the prosperity that we all enjoy today.

For information on Seniors’ Month activities in your community, check out the calendar of events on the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat website at: http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/seniors

The recognition of abuse of older adults is finally emerging from its hidden status. Elder abuse happens regularly, sometimes very close to us, but we tend to ignore or deny it because we don’t know what to do. When we hear the term "elder abuse", we think recent television documentaries or of an elderly person with bruises and/or burns. This is only part of the picture. Physical abuse is easier to recognize because the injuries are visible. Emotional abuse does not leave visible scars but is, nonetheless, painful and can leave long-term emotional and psychological scars.

Elder abuse can take place in the home, the community and in active and long-term care facilities. Abusers can be family members, informal or formal caregivers, friends and landlords. A National survey (Podnieks, 1990) indicated that 1 in 25 people over the age of 65 and living in the community have suffered some form of abuse. A recent Statistics Canada study (Family Violence: A Statistical Profile 2000) reports that:

Following are some of the initiatives that were developed and are presently underway across Eastern Ontario:

• Elder Abuse Steering Committee (under The Council on Aging of Ottawa) -development of:
  • A training program for the Ottawa Police Service (2 year project)
  • Implementation of the Elder Abuse Consultation Team
  • The Elder Abuse Resource Directory
  • Bilingual public presentations on elder abuse
  • Speakers’ Bureau
  • Pilot project of the Coordination Office by the Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre & Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre
  • Development of a city-wide protocol (screening tool/decision tree/goals of intervention/key resources) by Ottawa Queensway Carleton Hospital
  • Committee on the prevention of bullying and seniors
  • Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode  Community Resource Centre has a full time elder abuse coordinator & Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre has a half-time elder abuse coordinator
  • The above Centres hosted a 2 day conference titled, Shades of Grey: Legal and Ethical Issues in Elder Abuse
  • Citizen Advocacy Ottawa hosted a half day conference at the NAC: The Elder Abuse Puzzle - Where do I Fit?
  • Ottawa Police have created an Elder Abuse section – responsible for investigating all allegations of elder abuse and vulnerable adult abuse. The unit presently consists of one police officer with an additional officer being added in the fall 2006.

Ontario Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse/ ONPEA

August, 2005

The Ontario Association of Non-profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS) represents the non-profit sector for seniors’ supports and care. It includes long term care homes, seniors’ housing and retirement homes and community services for seniors. The Eastern Ontario region includes 52 long term care homes, housing and community programs. It encompasses Deep River, Pembroke, Renfrew, Clarence Creek, Hawkesbury, Maxville, Cornwall and Ottawa.

In early 2004, the issue of elder abuse in care facilities (retirement homes and long term care homes) became a focus of concern. Later in 2004, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care included elder abuse prevention programs in the new standards of long term care. The Eastern Ontario region decided to see what could be developed that would make a difference.

We embarked on a unique project that brought together all the Eastern Ontario region members to develop a strategy to address elder abuse in our homes. We call it:

Not wanting to duplicate what is already in place or to address factors beyond our control, the goal is:

• To develop strategies to recognize elder abuse in the workplace
• How to prevent it
• Address it
• Intervene, and
• Investigate when it occurs.

To be effective, strategies must be: concrete, practical and problem-solving rather than blaming. We identified 6 key areas and initial strategies for each, including the following:

Recognition and definitions: We have comprehensive definitions for clear communication to residents, staff, families and volunteers. To be serious about zero-tolerance, then a seemingly innocuous act like helping oneself uninvited to a resident’s chocolates is abuse just as much as assault.

Prevention: Prevention is the most effective strategy and includes improved hiring practices. People who support and care for the vulnerable elderly are extraordinary people. Taking a course and having a certificate is not enough.

• Therefore, strategies have been developed to improve hiring skills in order to find people who have the aptitude and personality to work with residents.
• Prevention also means a supportive work culture; effective strategies for staff to resolve their own day-to-day stresses are being explored.

Intervention: The standard is zero-tolerance. Like domestic violence – like drinking and driving – elder abuse cannot be tolerated. We need to identify and eliminate the factors that allow elder abuse to happen.

Investigation: Investigating an incident is a skill – and one not done well enough. There is a need for training in investigative skills.

Consequences: All staff must participate in enforcing zero-tolerance and consequences should be appropriate to the nature of the abuse. A table of consequences has been proposed in order to make the process transparent and meaningful.

Education: An end product will be a resource manual with a selection of strategies and resources. The idea is that each home can develop its own program but with common components of the eastern Ontario region. Our resource manual will include recommendations for training and orientation, exercises, questionnaires and videos. There are also strategies for changing attitudes and improving the work culture.

To date, positive steps have been taken to address abuse in the non-profit long term care and seniors’ housing sector in Eastern Ontario. There are more to come. The Elder Abuse Steering Committee of The Council on Aging of Ottawa provides an opportunity to exchange information and resources. It enables those of us in long term care and supportive housing to support and protect our residents.