ELDER ABUSE

KINGSTON 2009: ELDER LAW THEORY AND PRACTICE

Population Predictions forOlder Persons 65+

0

1000000

2000000

3000000

4000000

5000000

6000000

7000000

8000000

2002 2006 2021 2026

MalesFemalesTotal

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”.

POLICESERVICE GUIDELINES

Investigation be in accordance with the criminal investigation management plan;

Officers must:Ensure the safety of the victimAssess the needs of the victim such as emergency shelter, finances, food, clothing and legal adviceRefer the victim to assess community and government resources for assistance when necessary

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

POLICESERVICE GUIDELINES

O.P.P. Regions

O.P.P. Central Region

Central Region Headquarters777 Memorial Avenue, 3rd FloorOrillia, ON L3V 7V3Phone: 705-329-7400 Fax: 705-329-7407

O.P.P. Eastern Region

Eastern Region Headquarters3312 County Road 43 East, P.O. Box 2020

Smiths Falls, ON K7A 5K8 Phone: 613-284-4500 Fax: 613-284-4597

O.P.P. North East Region

North East Region Headquarters875 Gormanville Road,Box 140North Bay, ON L3V 7V3 Phone: 705-475-2600Fax: 705-475-2697

O.P.P. North West Region

North West Region Headquarters615 James St. South, 2nd Floor

Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6P6 Phone: 807-473-2700

Fax: 807-473-2796

O.P.P. Western RegionNorth West Region

Headquarters6355 Westminster Drive,Box 57, Lambeth Station

London, ON N6P 1T2 Phone: 519-652-4100

Fax: 519-652-4164

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

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

QUESTIONNAIREL.E.A.P.S.

(Law Enforcement Agencies Protecting Seniors)

Committee Members Responses

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

COMMUNITY RESPONSEFront line officer Crime units Fraud unitsPolice 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

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

COMMUNITY SUPPORTVCARSCCACONPEAVWAPSeniors at Risk CoordinatorsCOASTPG&TFamily ServicesACEHospitalsCommunity social and volunteer agencies

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

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ELDER ABUSE

Elder and Vulnerable Adult PoliciesPolicing Standards ManualOPP Police OrdersRegional Services Policies and Procedures

Address elder abuse through coordinated community response

Police Officer duties – Police Services Act

4.How does your service define elder abuse?

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

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

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?

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

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

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS/PARTNERSHIPSCommunity Policing CommitteesLTC facilities/Retirement Homes/SheltersNational Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE)Law Enforcement Agencies Protecting Seniors (LEAPS)Seniors at Risk coordinatorsCrisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST)Elder Abuse NetworksSeniors HelplinesCommunity Social and Volunteer Agencies