$100K elder abuse prevention project launched by UPEI-based group

An advisory committee coordinated by the PEI Centre on Health and Aging at UPEI released details today about an Island-wide project called, 'Abuse of Older Adults Awareness - A PEI Network Response.'

The $100,000 project, funded by Human Resources and Skill Development Canada's ‘New Horizons for Seniors' program, aims to raise awareness about elder abuse, and promote a network where Island seniors can seek help, and professional service providers can connect.

Project coordinator and long time seniors' advocate, Olive Bryanton, said, 'We are hopeful this two-year program will achieve several goals, but one of our priority objectives is to create an atmosphere where professionals who practice in the area of elder abuse prevention and intervention can easily collaborate and interact with each other.' She added, 'This will lead to less duplication of effort as well as a greater opportunity to advance ideas into practical application.'

Bryanton works with an advisory committee made up of researchers, faculty, and experts who work with older adults and is comprised of representatives from the PEI Department of Community Services, Seniors and Labour, RCMP, PEI Seniors Safety Program, and the UPEI Centre for Life-Long Learning, Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences, and School of Nursing.

Dr. Wendy Verhoek-Oftedahl, a committee member and Family Violence Prevention and Community Development Coordinator with the Province of PEI said, 'It is important to have a coordinated approach when dealing with elder abuse. The Province recognizes that we have an aging population and abuse is an increasing reality. This funding will allow us to partner, be proactive, and deliver services vital to older adults.'

Other initiatives of the project include hosting two provincial planning forums to bring professionals and seniors together to plan the next steps and a training program to educate seniors to be spokespersons so they can provide abuse of older adult information to their peers and others in their communities. An asset map and analysis is currently being researched and will be used to identify services available and possible existing gaps.

For more information, visit www.upei.ca/~csha.