ELDER ABUSE KINGSTON 2009: ELDER LAW THEORY AND PRACTICE

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Lorin Barber
5 years ago
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1 ELDER ABUSE KINGSTON 2009: ELDER LAW THEORY AND PRACTICE

2 Population Predictions for Older Persons Males Females Total

Forms of abuse include psychological, financial and physical abuse, as well as neglect and sexual assault.

3 ONTARIO POLICING STANDARDS MANUAL ELDER ABUSE DEFINITION: Any act that harms or threatens to harm the health or well-being of an older adult. Forms of abuse include psychological, financial and physical abuse, as well as neglect and sexual assault. VULNERABLE ADULT DEFINITION: A person who depends on other to meet every day needs because he/she has a mental illness or developmental disability, or requires long term or indefinite care due to age or medical condition.

4 POLICE SERVICE GUIDELINES Investigation be in accordance with the criminal investigation management plan; Officers must: Ensure the safety of the victim Assess the needs of the victim such as emergency shelter, finances, food, clothing and legal advice Refer the victim to assess community and government resources for assistance when necessary

5 POLICE SERVICE GUIDELINES Set up steps when responding to occurrences in residential care facilities and institutional settings Liaison and information sharing with other police services and government agencies on issues relating to abuse, including fraud Disseminate info to the public on fraud and other types of serial crime against seniors in the community

6 O.P.P. Regions

7 O.P.P. Central Region Central Region Headquarters 777 Memorial Avenue, 3 rd Floor Orillia, ON L3V 7V3 Phone: Fax:

8 O.P.P. Eastern Region Eastern Region Headquarters 3312 County Road 43 East, P.O. Box 2020 Smiths Falls, ON K7A 5K8 Phone: Fax:

9 O.P.P. North East Region North East Region Headquarters 875 Gormanville Road, Box 140 North Bay, ON L3V 7V3 Phone: Fax:

10 O.P.P. North West Region North West Region Headquarters 615 James St. South, 2nd Floor Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6P6 Phone: Fax:

11 O.P.P. Western Region North West Region Headquarters 6355 Westminster Drive, Box 57, Lambeth Station London, ON N6P 1T2 Phone: Fax:

12 O.P.P. Regional Abuse Issues Coordinator Assists and acts as a resource with the investigation of crimes involving elder abuse Participates Regionally in the development of protocols Works in partnership with stakeholders and community agencies

13 O.P.P. ABUSE ISSUES INVESTIGATORS Housed in each detachment Assist with elder abuse investigations Liaise with local community stakeholders, organizations that provide support for victims of abuse Maintain local protocols

14 QUESTIONNAIRE L.E.A.P.S. (Law Enforcement Agencies Protecting Seniors) Committee Members Responses

15 1. What type of response does your police service have to elder abuse in your community?

16 COMMUNITY RESPONSE Front line officer Crime units Fraud units Police Services with units specializing in elder abuse (Hamilton, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Waterloo, London, York, Halton, Durham) Majority of Police Services have a coordinator specializing in elder abuse to act as a resource and community liaison

17 2. What support for victims of elder abuse do you have in your community?

18 COMMUNITY SUPPORT VCARS CCAC ONPEA VWAP Seniors at Risk Coordinators COAST PG&T Family Services ACE Hospitals Community social and volunteer agencies

19 3. Does your service have a policy and procedure relating to elder abuse?

20 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ELDER ABUSE Elder and Vulnerable Adult Policies Policing Standards Manual OPP Police Orders Regional Services Policies and Procedures Address elder abuse through coordinated community response Police Officer duties Police Services Act

21 4. How does your service define elder abuse?

22 DEFINITION OF ELDER ABUSE Harm caused to a person over the age of 60 or 65 (varies) Person of trust or authority OPP Definition Policing Standards Manual Definition

23 ELDER ABUSE O.P.P. Definition Any action or inaction by any person which causes harm, or threatens to cause harm, to an older person

24 5. What percentage of elder abuse investigations are related to financial abuse? And more specifically to an issue arising from improper use of (theft by) Power of Attorney?

25 PERCENTAGE OF FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS No service was able to provide exact statistics Responses were estimated to be anywhere from 50% 80% Unable to decipher between Fraud and Power of Attorney

26 6. Does your community have any other community programs/partnerships?

27 COMMUNITY PROGRAMS/PARTNERSHIPS Community Policing Committees LTC facilities/retirement Homes/Shelters National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE) Law Enforcement Agencies Protecting Seniors (LEAPS) Seniors at Risk coordinators Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) Elder Abuse Networks Seniors Helplines Community Social and Volunteer Agencies

Safeguarding Adults. Patient information

Safeguarding Adults. Patient information Safeguarding Adults Patient information Safeguarding Adults Keeping the people who use our services safe is very important. That is why we have arrangements in place to protect people from abuse. This