Summary

Elder abuse is a serious and complicated problem, but comprehensive health services to address it in Ontario are lacking. To address this gap in services, we are developing a hospital-based Elder Abuse Intervention with links to allied health, community, and legal sectors. Over multiple phases and using different methods we have developed: 1) the components of care, 2) a model of participating professionals and their roles and responsibilities, 3) a social inclusion framework, 4) a specialized elder abuse training for forensic nurse examiners, and currently, 5) a template for an agreement between multiple service providers/agencies. A future pilot of the Elder Abuse Intervention to test whether it responds well to the needs of abused older adults is in the planning stages.

  • Publications
  • KT Tools
  • Acknowledgements

Articles

 

  • Du Mont, J., Kosa, D., Kia, H., Spencer, C., Yaffe, M., & Macdonald, S. (2020). Development and evaluation of a social inclusion framework for a comprehensive hospital-based elder abuse intervention. PLoS ONE. Read article

     

     

  • Du Mont, J., Kosa, D., Yang, R., Solomon, S., & Macdonald, S. (2017). Determining the effectiveness of an elder abuse nurse examiner curriculum: A pilot study. Nurse Education Today, 55, 71-76. Read article

  • Du Mont, J., Kosa, D., Macdonald, S., Elliot, S., & Yaffe, M. (2016). Development of skills-based competencies for forensic nurse examiners providing elder abuse care. BMJ Open, 6: e009690. Read article

  • Du Mont, J., Kosa, D., Macdonald, S., Elliot, S., & Yaffe, M. (2015). Determining possible professionals and respective roles and responsibilities for a comprehensive elder abuse intervention: A Delphi consensus survey. PLoS ONE, 10(12) e0140760. Read article

  • Du Mont, J., Macdonald, S., Kosa, D., Elliot, S., Spencer, C., & Yaffe, M. (2015). Development of a comprehensive hospital-based elder abuse intervention: An initial systematic scoping review. PLoS ONE, 10(5): e0125105. Read article

  • Du Mont, J., Mirzaei, A., Macdonald, S., White, M., Kosa, D., & Reimer, L. (2014). Perceived feasibility of establishing a dedicated elder abuse program of care at hospital-based sexual assault/domestic violence treatment centres. Medicine and Law, 33(4), 189-206. Read article

     

Curricula & Guidelines

  • Du Mont, J., Macdonald, S., Lanthier, S., Zhao, & Reimer, L. (2015, September). Elder Abuse Nurse Examiner Curriculum [PowerPoint Training, draft]. Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres and Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital.

  • Du Mont, J., Macdonald, S., Lanthier, S., Zhao, J., & Reimer, L. (2015, September). Elder Abuse Nurse Examiner Curriculum [Facilitator’s Guide, draft]. Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres and Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital.

  • Du Mont, J., Macdonald, S., Lanthier, S., Zhao, J, & +Reimer, L. (2015, September). Elder Abuse Nurse Examiner Curriculum [Manual, draft]. Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres and Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital.

Knowledge Translation Tools

  • Paterson, M., Yang, R., Kosa, D., Macdonald, S., & Du Mont, J. (2016). Development, pilot, and evaluation of an elder abuse nurse examiner curriculum [Video]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital and the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres.

  • Yang R., Paterson, M., Kosa, D., Macdonald, S., & Du Mont, J. (2016). Elder abuse intervention: Sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) curriculum [Infographic]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital and the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres.

  • Paterson, M., Yang R., Kosa, D., Macdonald, S., & Du Mont, J. (2016). Determining Possible Professionals for a Comprehensive Model Elder Abuse Intervention [Infographic]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital and the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres.

  • Du Mont, J., & Macdonald, S. (Introduction), Kosa, D. (Moderator), Yang, R., & Paterson, M. (Presenters). (2016, April 6). Elder abuse nurse examiner curriculum: A critical step in advancing a comprehensive response to elder abuse across Ontario [Webinar]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital and the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres.

  • Du Mont, J., Rideout, R. (Introduction), Paterson, M. (Moderator), & Kosa, D. (Presenter). (2016, April 13). Addressing the abuse of older women and men: Building a multidisciplinary intersectoral hospital-based elder abuse intervention [Webinar]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital and Elder Abuse Ontario. 

Funder

Phases 2 and 4 of the Elder Abuse Intervention Project was funded by separate grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Phase 3 was funded by Women’s Xchange.

Participating Centres

Pilot of the Elder Abuse Nurse Examiner Curriculum

  • Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program, Brantford General Site, Brant Community Healthcare System;
  • Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre;
  • Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Care Centre, Women’s College Hospital; and
  • Waterloo Region Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, St. Mary’s General Hospital.

Research Team

  • Co-Principal Investigator: Janice Du Mont, Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital;
  • Co-Principal Investigator: Sheila Macdonald, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres;
  • Co-Investigator: Mark Yaffe, Department of Family Medicine at McGill University and St. Mary’s Hospital;
  • Co-Investigator: Charmaine Spencer, Gerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University;
  • Knowledge User: Reann Rideout, Elder Abuse Ontario; and
  • Project Coordinator: Daisy Kosa, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital.

Collaborators

Intersectoral Elder Abuse Expert Panel 2014

  • Roger Benson, St Joseph’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences;
  • Alison Douglas, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists;
  • Connie Fan, Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat, Government of Ontario;
  • Patricia Fleischmann, Metro Toronto Police Service;
  • Tyler Fleming, Ombudsman Banking Services and Investments;
  • Vicki Gibson, Ontario Women’s Directorate, Government of Ontario;
  • Sepali Guruge, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University;
  • Joy Halbert, Member, Prevention of Elder Abuse Committee of York Region, Follow-up Care Nurse, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault (DASA) Care Centre of York Region, Mackenzie Health;
  • Christa Harvison, Senior Client Service Manager, Central Community Care Access Centre;
  • Douglas Melville, Ombudsman Banking Services and Investments;
  • Pat Power, Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Elder Abuse Intervention Team, City of Edmonton;
  • Paula Rochon, Women’s College Hospital, Senior Scientist, Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto;
  • Ann Soden, National Institute of Law Policy and Ageing and Centre for Law and Ageing;
  • Jill Steinman, Guardianship Investigations Unit, Ontario Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee;
  • Jennifer Valiquette, Regional Assault Care Program, Renfrew Victoria Hospital;
  • Penny Vallaincourt, Elder Abuse Response Service, Regional Assault Care Program, Renfrew Victoria Hospital;
  • Judith Wahl, Executive Director, Advocacy Centre for the Elderly;
  • Maureen Williams, Policy Research Directorate, Employment and Social Development Canada; and
  • Stephanie Yantha, Manager, Care Services, Director of Health and Wellness, Revera Living.

Consensus Meeting Program Leader Expert Panel 2015

  • Joanne Barbera, Sexual Assault Treatment Centre, Windsor;
  • Nancy Horan, Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault Treatment Program, Sudbury;
  • Sarah Kaplan, Assault and Sexual Abuse Program, Cornwall;
  • Jennifer Keeler, Peel Region Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program, Mississauga;
  • Tara Leach, Sexual Assault Partner Abuse Care Program, Ottawa;
  • Dawn Macdonald, Thunder Bay Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Program, Thunder Bay;
  • Heather Shilling, Regional Sexual and Domestic Assault Program, Simcoe County/Muskoka; Diana Tikasz, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre, Hamilton; and
  • Jennifer Valiquette, Renfrew Victoria Hospital Regional Assault Care Program, Renfrew.

Intersectoral Elder Abuse Expert Panel 2015

  • Maureen Chin, Investigations Unit, Client Services, Office of the Public Guardian & Trustee, Ministry of the Attorney General;
  • Mary Dempsey, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program, Brant Community Healthcare System – Brantford General Site;
  • Alison Douglas, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists;
  • Linda Fleming, Community Support Connections, Meals on Wheels and More;
  • Junia Kim, Ontario Seniors' Secretariat;
  • Dawn Macdonald, Ambulatory Care Services, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre;
  • Lisa Manuel, Changing Lives and Family Violence Programs, Family Service Toronto;
  • Penny McVicar, Victim Services of Brant;
  • Katherine Mortimer, Ontario Seniors' Secretariat;
  • Pat Power, Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Elder Abuse Intervention Team, City of Edmonton, Social Worker, Seniors Protection Partnership;
  • Katharine Renison, Retired Counsel;
  • Raeann Rideout, Central East, Elder Abuse Ontario, Co-Chair, Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse;
  • Carlos Riva, Family Service Toronto, Psychotherapist, TS Medical Centre Ltd.;
  • Paula Rochon, Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Clinical Epidemiology Program, University of Toronto, Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest;
  • Anna Siciliano, North York Elder Abuse Network, Social Worker, Circle of Care;
  • Ann Soden, National Institute of Law, Policy and Aging, The Elder Law Clinic;
  • Lee Stones, Community Elder Abuse Prevention Committee (Thunder Bay);
  • Julia Swinson, Waterloo Region Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, St. Mary's General Hospital;
  • Jane Teasdale, North York Elder Abuse Network, Principal, Director of Business Development Mosaic Home Care Services & Community Resource Centre;
  • Manon Thompson, Champlain Elder Abuse Response Coalition, Regional Elder Abuse Consultant, Eastern Ontario, Elder Abuse Ontario;
  • Jennifer Valiquette, Champlain Elder Abuse Consultation Team, Clinical Nursing Manager, Regional Assault Care Program, Renfrew Victoria Hospital;
  • Marisha Warrington, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care; and
  • Mark Yaffe, Department of Family Medicine, McGill University and St. Mary's Hospital Center.