October, 2023
www.eapon.ca
Welcome to our October e-Newsletter!
This month's edition, highlights several important themes and events, which raise awareness of key issues affecting older adults: National Seniors Day, Cyber Security , Mental Illness, National Women’s History Month, Domestic Violence and Ageism Awareness.
We invite you to review EAPO's Blogs, archived webinars, quizzes and access new resources being shared on our website as well as social media platforms, that showcased these events.
November is promising to be a busy month with EAPO hosting (2) Virtual Conferences and , Webinars on a variety of topics requested by our followers and ramping up Trainings on Risk Assessment tools in December. Investing time to educate yourself about these important issues that help prevent Elder Abuse, is the best way to support seniors who may be at-risk or experiencing abuse.
We look forward to our continued collaborations with each of you, our subscribers, community partners and the countless volunteers we engage with each day, to create stronger, interconnected, vibrant and safer communities for all seniors in Ontario!
Marta Hajek, CEO
Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
Annual Virtual Conference Series 2023
Ethical and Legal Responsibilities: Reporting Elder Abuse
November 2nd, 2023 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
This virtual conference, the 3rd in a series, will continue our conversation about ending the abuse of older persons by shining a light on the ethical and legal responsibilities of reporting!
While reporting suspected cases is essential to protecting older persons in our communities, many community members, families, seniors, and service providers are unaware of their obligations to report or what happens once a report is made to authorities.
EAPO brings together leading experts, who will share their expertise and engage participants in discussions, by using case studies. Join us and learn how authorities/organizations respond to reports of elder abuse, to ensure that proper measures are being taken to keep older persons safe from harm.
There is no fee to attend, but pre-registration is required.
Provided with ASL.
A Virtual Symposium on Innovation and Collaboration to Combat Gender-Based Violence:
Inclusive Voices, Collective Power
November 29, 2023 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
To mark this year's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, WomanACT, and the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse are co-hosting a half-day virtual symposium on Gender Based Violence.
The symposium will showcase innovative and collaborative projects and programs from across Canada that respond to intersectional issues of gender-based violence.
Uplifting Senior’s Voices:
Being HEARD and RESPECTED
November 15th, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Armour Presbyterian Church,
105 Wilson Avenue, Toronto
This in-person event provides an opportunity for seniors to amplify their voices about issues that matter, like AGEISM and FINANCIAL ABUSE. Through a facilitated discussion, participants will gain valuable insights into promoting positive healthy relationships, learn ways to safeguard themselves against abuse, and takeaway a number of informational resources provided by community partners. Hosted by EAPO and leadership from local GTA Elder Abuse Prevention Networks, this forum will bring together volunteers, staff and community program providers to engage and learn from each other.
Refreshments and Lunch are provided, but PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Register on-line: here, email: admin@eapon.ca, or call: 416-916-6728
Le Programme BIEN en résidence : promouvoir la bienveillance et lutter contre l’intolérance entre les personnes vivant au sein de milieux de vie collectifs et locatifs pour ainés
16 novembre, 2023 | 1 pm - 2 pm
Ce webinaire vise à présenter le Programme BIEN en résidence qui a pour objectif de promouvoir la bienveillance et de lutter contre l’intolérance entre les personnes vivant au sein de milieux de vie collectifs et locatifs pour ainés autonomes et semi-autonomes.
AI Frauds and Scams - Protecting Cyber Safety
November 21st, 2023 / 1 pm - 2 pm
Increasingly AI (Artificial Intelligence) is being used across all industries, yet it is also a means for fraudsters and scammers to commit financial crimes and abuse, targeting seniors. Attend this webinar, hosted in partnerships with Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, Ontario Provincial Police, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the Ontario Security Commission, to gain insights into the world of AI, and how YOU can protect yourself cyber frauds and scams. Guest speakers will share fraud trends and stats as well as resources that explain how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in financial services and in frauds.
GIFT in Residence: Promoting goodwill and countering intolerance between people living within collective and rent based environments for older adults
November 23th, 2023 | 1 pm - 2 pm
This webinar will provide an overview of the GIFT in Residence Program, which promotes goodwill and ways to counter the intolerance between people living within collective and rent based environments, for autonomous and semi-autonomous older adults.
Webinar Archives:
EAPO in collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Storey, are pleased to host a 3 day virtual training (Dec 12, 13, & 15, 2023) for service providers to use the Harm to Older Persons Evaluation (HOPE) tool.
Dr. Storey, author of HOPE, will facilitate engaging and interactive training sessions to provide front-line providers the skills and tools for assessing risk of older adults and their perpetrators, as well as build capacity for response and intervention in cases of abuse.
Dec 12, & 13, 2023 9am - 12pm
Dec 15, 2023 9am - 1pm
Early Bird Price: $199
Read EAPO's Blog
National Seniors Day 2023
Oct. 1 of each year is National Seniors Day, which coincides with the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) and is an occasion for Canadians to celebrate the profound contributions of seniors in our homes, communities and workplaces.
Continue reading here
Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 1-7
Each Year the first week of October is Canada’s National Campaign to enhance the awareness of mental Illness. The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health set out the theme this year as Awareness, Access and Parity for Mental Health and Substance use Care in Canada.
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month
Cyber Security Awareness Month is an internationally recognized campaign held each October to help the public learn more about the importance of cyber security. The campaign helps Canadians stay secure online by teaching them simple steps to protect themselves and their devices.
Women’s History Month in Canada 2023
October is Women’s History Month in Canada, a time to celebrate the women and girls from our past, and our present, who are contributing to a better, more inclusive Canada. This year’s theme, Through Her Lens: Celebrating the Diversity of Women, emphasizes the importance of recognizing the achievements and contributions of women from diverse backgrounds.
EAPO is calling for expressions of interest by community members and influencers to join our Board of Directors.
Are you looking for a new opportunity to get engaged and effect meaningful change?
Please send the application to the attention of the Nominating Committee via email: admin@eapon.ca by end of business day, November 17th, 2023.
Find more information about vacancy here
As a result of national consultations, the Government has developed a federal policy definition on the mistreatment of older persons.
Mistreatment of older persons is a single or repeated event that involves a person, a group, a community, or an organization and occurs within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust, when an act, word, attitude, or lack of appropriate action causes or risks causing negative consequences for an older person.
The federal policy definition presents the opportunity to provide federal leadership and share a common understanding of this issue. It is intended to serve as a vehicle for culture change and public awareness in support of efforts to prevent the mistreatment of older persons, and to help inform federal policies and programs aimed at countering this issue.
The federal policy definition will not replace these jurisdictional definitions. Furthermore, the policy definition will not be a legal definition and will neither be included in nor inform any Criminal Code amendments.
Read the explanatory document and the Consultation on a federal policy definition of senior abuse: What we heard report.
New Elder Abuse Reports and Resources
Blueprint for Transformation: The 2023 Report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty
In 2022-2023, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we had the opportunity to engage with people in-person on issues related to poverty, including income inadequacy, housing, food insecurity, health, and discrimination and stigma. In addition to our in-person engagement, we held virtual small-group sessions with participants from across Canada.
Read the report here
A fine line: Finding the right seniors’ poverty measure in Canada (October 2023).
In Canada, governments provide seniors with a spectrum of income supports and programs intended to maintain a baseline standard of living in retirement. For many years, the social safety net has been praised for producing lower poverty rates for seniors, as measured by the Market Basket Measure (MBM), Canada’s Official Poverty Line. However, our understanding of seniors’ income adequacy is often based on long-held assumptions about what an adequate life looks like in retirement and on “adequacy measures” that do not necessarily reflect the experiences of seniors. In this report, you will explore the question: Are we accurately measuring seniors’ income adequacy, and if not, how can we do better? Read the report here
Impact report: Partnering for aging breakthroughs
We are all getting older, and technologies will continue to expand into various parts of everyday life. We must ensure that present and future technologies are created with and for older adults so that these innovations contribute to an elevated quality of life for all. - Cosmin Munteanu, Schlegel Research Chair in Technology for Healthy Aging
Read how meaningful engagement with older adults and those who care for them enhances the impact of RIA work here
Promoting physical activity for older people: a toolkit for action (2023).World Health Organization
This toolkit is one of a series to help countries develop and implement policy actions to effectively increase the proportion of people participating in physical activity. It is underpinned by the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030 and the ACTIVE technical package, and focuses on interventions that can be delivered through primary health and community care services. It is also designed to support activities under the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. Read the full Toolkit here
Physical Activity Toolkit for Older Adults
For the first time ever, older adults make up a greater share of Canada’s population than children.
By 2031, about 23 per cent of Canadians could be seniors. We know that one way older adults can maintain and enhance their well-being and independence is through a lifestyle that embraces physical activity. Taking part in regular physical activity is key to improving wellness for older adults.
Read the Toolkit here
Canada's first national dementia strategy sets out a vision for the future and identifies common principles and national objectives to help guide actions by all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, communities, families and individuals. In developing the strategy, we sought at all times to ensure that people living with dementia and the family and friends who provide care to them were at the heart of these efforts.
Read the Report here
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
In 2023, CIHR launched the Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging (BHCIA) Research Initiative to advance brain health and cognitive impairment in aging research. As part of this initiative, this funding opportunity will support Implementation Science Teams (ISTs) to evaluate the effectiveness of equitable and inclusive solutions to improve care and services for persons with lived and living experience (PWLLE) of cognitive impairment and dementia, including their care partners*, leading to more successful integration of evidence-based practices, interventions and/or policies into routine care and public health (see Additional Information for more details about Implementation Science Research).
Cyber Security Awareness Month
To celebrate #CyberMonth, EAPO invites you to check how cyber-savvy you are by taking our Cyber Security Quiz!
It's a great way to learn more about keeping your online life secure and your personal information safe.
Take the quiz here
Boost your protection against common cyber threats. From: Get Cyber Safe
To kick off #CyberMonth2023, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has partnered with Get Cyber Safe, who, like us, understands how important cyber security is to businesses as well as individuals. This blog presents our shared perspective, and we thank them for being a dedicated partner in the cyber security of Canadians.
Finding the motivation to start a new fitness routine can be tough, just like staying up to date on the latest cyber threats. Read more EN here | FR ici
Successful Fraud Chat
EAPO participated with OSC for a successful Fraud Chat on @smarter_money earlier this month. The Oct. 5 chat reached 1.6 million users and had a total of 6.1 million impressions from 376 unique mentions via 50 unique authors. The hashtag #Fraudchat was a trending term in Canada.
LEARN MORE
Get Ready for Financial Literacy Month
November is Financial Literacy Month. OSC is hosting financial literacy activities to help keep individuals finances afloat, including:
RHRA Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC) Opportunity
RHRA is seeking a Regulated Health Professional Representative (e.g., physician, nurse, pharmacist, occupational therapist, etc.) to join the council and contribute to key discussions with the Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC). SAC members meet for a maximum of six meetings per year to provide expertise and advice to RHRA about its mandate and strategic priorities.
If you or someone you know would like to apply for this position, please complete the SAC Application Form and submit it to RHRA by email at communications@rhra.ca by Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.
Learn more here
Seeking Participants for Study on Dementia
This study, funded by the Alzheimer Society Research Program, focuses on how ideas of capacity, consent, and decision-making affect people facing dementia who are “going it alone” and non-family, non-friend others who become involved in representing them as substitute decision-makers.
Currently interviewing eligible participants in Ontario and Alberta. Click on the image below for more details or read more about the study here
To participate or for more information, please contact Dr. Celeste Pang at ncpang@mtroyal.ca
(City of Markham)
Addressing Abuse Toward Older Adults: A Collaborative Panel
November 21st, 2023
2:00 pm EST – 3:30 pm EST
This past year, AGE-WELL National Innovation Hub, Advancing Policies and Practices in Technology and Aging (APPTA) and the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) collaborated with a variety of stakeholders from organizations serving older adults, working toward prevention of abuse, and advocating for change. Through this collaboration, a policy report was developed which highlights goals to strengthen Canada’s approach to prevent and respond to abuse toward older adults.
Learn more about this report and hear from an expert panel featuring:
Register in advance here
Nov 2 - 4: 11th Canadian Conference on Dementia
Nov. 8 - 9: Elder Mediation International Network's 11th World Summit on Mediation with Age Related Issues
Nov 13: Adapting Environments for Sensory Loss Workshop
Nov. 21: Addressing Abuse toward Older Adults, a collaborative panel
Nov. 29: Navigating Housing for Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities
June 2-5, 2024: HelpAge Canada: Community Based Seniors’ Services Sector Summit: Claiming our Space, Naming Our Future (conference, Ottawa)
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