In April 2015, with funding obtained through the Ministry of Health, CREA provided Capacity Building Grants for projects of up to $50,000.
These Elder Abuse Capacity Building Projects continue to have impact for BC seniors.
The Capacity Building Grants were intended to assist provincial and community-based organizations to develop new or enhance existing elder abuse action projects in the areas of prevention, recognition or response projects and programs, to support seniors, their families and caregivers, front-line workers, etc.
The Capacity Building Grants were awarded for projects that involved strong partnerships, and to organizations with a good knowledge/understanding of elder abuse, excellent track records and a clear capacity to implement the project.
The projects responded to an identified need, resulted in new approaches and resources to address elder abuse, and included a strong sustainability plan. They supported diversity, addressed issues faced by socially isolated or otherwise marginalized seniors, and strengthened networks.
These projects, and the approach to prevention, recognition and response, are as diverse as the populations targeted, and have educated police, bystanders, service providers, caregivers, older women fleeing abuse, seniors from various ethnocultural communities, Aboriginal Elders, people in the LGBTQ community, elderly renters and their landlords, families and communities about the mistreatment of older British Columbians.
It is hoped that through sharing and collaboration, the results of these Elder Abuse Action Project continue to have an impact on all British Columbians and will contribute to a change in societal attitudes so that elder abuse is no longer tolerated in this province.
Learn more about CREA’s Elder Abuse Capacity Building Projects:
This project scaled up an existing Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention program by engaging community members. Tools and resources are freely available.
The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres used a cultural training approach to ending elder abuse by focusing on building relationships and addressing issues of isolation and neglect, strengthening community supports and providing tools for use by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal partners and organizations.
The BC Association of Community Response Networks (BCCRN) used CREA project funding to train Community Response Network facilitators and community partners to use the University of Western Ontario’s ‘It’s Not Right’ Elder Abuse Identification and Response program in their communities. This training is now embedded into the BCCRNs province-wide.
Seniors’ First BC, in coordination with the Family Caregivers of BC, adapted existing materials to create educational materials for family caregivers to identify and reduce elder abuse. A number of resources were developed and are available through Seniors First and other organizations.
BC Crime Prevention Association (BCCPA) developed train-the-trainer modules about Elder Abuse awareness and response for ongoing delivery to front-line service providers. A number of questions that front-line staff have were identified.
Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH) – University of Victoria worked to explore and map the unique issues in Elder Abuse in minority communities, specifically in the Chinese and South Asian communities of Greater Victoria and the Lower Mainland. A number of questions and recommendations were developed as a result of this project.
The Network of Inner City Community Services Society worked on the Elders Connect project with key partners to identify gaps in programs and services for at-risk seniors and establish an action plan. Their goal was to reduce barriers to access by building programs and services based on seniors’ needs.
Simon Fraser University (SFU) worked with a variety of partners to host Town Hall meetings, produce videos and factsheets to increase awareness of elder abuse in the LGBTQ community.
SUCCESS worked with a number of key partners to engage a broader segment of the Chinese immigrant communities of Metro Vancouver on the topic of elder abuse. They worked with seniors, family members, volunteers and the community.
Tonari Gumi, the Japanese Community Volunteers Association held bilingual workshops and worked to build stronger community networks as a foundation for stopping elder abuse in the BC Japanese Canadian community.
The Safety and Awareness for Elders (SAFE) project was designed to increase awareness and education for seniors about elder abuse, targeting communities that show higher than average risk factors.
A public legal education project – legal information handbook and a workshop curriculum, delivered in person and via webinar – to support front-line responders to provide information on legal issues, including family law, to female elders fleeing abuse in the family context.
The project objective was to share information and resources with building and residential managers in the West End of Vancouver, in order to support older adult renters experiencing housing challenges and to raise awareness about abuse of elderly renters.
