• A partnership between the Prevention of Elder Abuse Committee of York Region and the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness

• Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

Objectives of the Program Identify who can help and mak

e resource

s available

Introduce

Response

Guidelines

to Servic

e Providers and

offer In-

Service

Education

Offer Peer-Led

Workshops

to Seniors, to Start the

Conversati

on

Increase awareness and provide education and

resources on recognizing and

responding to elder abuse

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

Where are we now?

“Starting the Conversation” Peer-Led Workshops:

30 WorkshopsOver 370 Seniors

“Response Guidelines”

In-Service Presentations:

23 In-ServicesOver 400 Staff

Volunteers Engaged: 23

(Languages include Hindi,

Tamil, Tagalog, Hebrew,

Romanian, Spanish)

Website Hits:

Average 4,000

monthly

(Last year’s Monthly

average: 1,000)

RESPONSE GUIDELINESPortable,

small enough to keep hand

yClear, concis

e, easy

to read

Lots of

helpful

informatio

n, but not overwhelming

Decision

Tree, Red Flag

Chart,

Duty to

Report

very helpf

ul

Resource

Contact

Informatio

n helpf

ul (sometimes unsure who

to contact and how

to reach them)

Feedback confirms findings of

Focus

Groups

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

• Limited/slow engagement from PSW-staffed agencies• Many want In-service Education to Managers,

Supervisors, etc. before offering to front-line workers• In-Service Presentations have included staff not

necessarily front-line service providers (Managers, Coordinators, Social Workers, Supervisors, Office Staff, kitchen staff, etc.)

Interesting Discoveries:

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

• Often want In-service Education to be agency-specific • Some agencies have some education in place, but not

consistently offered • Frequently staff are not aware if there is a policy and/or

what the procedure is• Both Seniors and Service Providers are confused about

who to call and what the response will be (they want to be able to predict the outcome)

Interesting Discoveries:

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

Barriers to Engagement…

“Starting the Conversation”

Peer-Led Workshops with Seniors:

-The topic -Taking time for education

(social versus educational clubs)-Unsure of appropriateness of

material – hesitant to have us in

“Response Guidelines”

In-Service Workshops with Service Providers:

- Unwilling to pay staff time for education

- Gathering staff together at same time an issue

- Belief that staff are already aware and confident in responding to elder

abuse

Un

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

Engagement Strategies?

• Look for ways to collaborate with other Community Agencies

• Share information, articles, videos• Be or recruit a “Champion” within your

organization • Look for ways to bring education to staff,

even if not time to meet face-to-face• Communities of Practice

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

Engagement Strategies?

• Not naming the Seniors workshops “Elder Abuse”• Be or recruit a Champion within Seniors

groups • Try to schedule workshop at a time when

group is already meeting

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region

• Find a “Champion”• Collaborate• Be Creative

Final Thoughts…

To book In-Service Education or a Seniors Workshop:

www.elderabuse-yorkregion.ca

or Call 905-967-0687, Ext. 240

Elder Abuse Education Program-York Region