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Part of Supports for caregivers and organizations

Coordinated community response to elder abuse

Helping communities, organizations and individuals develop a multi-disciplinary approach to prevent and address elder abuse.

Overview

We all can help address and prevent elder abuse. Making a difference requires working together as individuals, groups or government, and the most effective actions happen at the community level.

Together, through a coordinated community response (CCR), community and government organizations deliver supports and services and increase ability to respond to elder abuse at the local level.

Community organizations may include:

  • seniors centres
  • police and victim services
  • health service providers
  • family and community support services
  • domestic and family violence services
  • mental health/addiction services
  • social service organizations
  • housing providers
  • Indigenous organizations
  • LGBTQ2S+-serving organizations
  • cultural and immigrant-serving organizations
  • legal organizations
  • libraries, banks, counselling services and more

Elder abuse is any intentional or reckless act or wilful and negligent disregard, occurring within a relationship of family, trust or dependency, directed at someone 65 years of age or older, that:

  • causes physical harm
  • causes emotional or psychological harm
  • involves the misappropriation or misuse of money or other personal possessions or personal or real property
  • subjects an individual to non-consensual sexual contact, activity or behaviour
  • fails to provide the necessities of life

To learn more about the Alberta government’s response, read A Collective Approach: Alberta’s Strategy for preventing and addressing elder abuse, a 5-year strategy to prevent and address elder abuse.

Where to get help

Call 911 if you or someone you know is being abused and is in immediate danger.

For support, information or referrals, call or text the Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818 (24-hour, toll-free in more than 170 languages) or chat online (to start a chat, click on the message icon in the bottom right of the screen – available in English only).

For more information on recognizing signs of elder abuse and how to get help, visit Elder Abuse – Get Help.

For other inquires or questions about program policy, connect with the Seniors Strategic Planning Branch, email: [email protected].

What you can do

Connect with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council to see if there is a CCR in your community.

If not, follow the 5-step process to develop a community response to elder abuse in your community.

Step 1. Starting the process

Start by raising awareness about the issue of elder abuse and the benefits of starting a CCR.

Primary actions

  • begin the conversation
  • acknowledge the issue of elder abuse
  • engage and raise awareness with community partners
  • acknowledge current and emerging issues impacting older adults

Step 2. Building the team

Engage individuals and organizations to become part of your coordinated community response.

Primary actions

  • identify and gather key stakeholders
  • compile a community services inventory
  • establish a common vision/mission statement
  • develop a set of guiding principles, for example, group norms

Step 3. Planning the CCR

Determine your community's strengths, gaps and priorities before developing the formal structure for your coordinated community response.

Primary actions

  • identify strengths and gaps
  • determine priorities
  • establish a formal structure
  • understand roles and responsibilities

Step 4. Implementing the CCR

Decide how you will introduce the coordinated community response plan to your community.

Primary actions

  • implement the plan
  • encourage strong team communication
  • motivate your team
  • focus on collaboration
  • continue team building

Step 5. Evaluating the process

Develop an evaluation process to help you understand how well the coordinated community response is achieving its goals and realizing its vision.

Primary actions

  • build an evaluation framework
  • maintain the momentum
  • re-evaluate and enhance

Get the toolkit

The toolkit for developing a CCR is available: Addressing Elder Abuse: A Toolkit for Developing a Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse

The toolkit provides details on the 5-stage process along with definitions, templates worksheets and handouts.

Coordinated community response grant

The Alberta government, in partnership with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council (AEAAC), supports efforts to prevent and address elder abuse by funding and strengthening local coordinated community response models across Alberta.

  • This includes support and guidance to seniors and their families who are at risk of or are experiencing abuse, as well as connecting them to community resources.

To learn more about funding for local CCRs, contact the AEAAC at [email protected].

Safe Spaces Program

In 2024, the Alberta government, in partnership with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council (AEAAC), launched the Safe Spaces Program. Through this program, CCRs partner with local seniors lodges to provide temporary accommodation for older adults experiencing elder abuse in rural and Indigenous communities.

To learn more about this program in your community:

News

Contact

For inquires or questions about program policy, connect with the Seniors Strategic Planning Branch:
Email: [email protected]

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