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Year End Message from the CEO.
2024 is fast drawing to a close, and despite how very busy we are these days, it is important that we take the time to reflect on the good, the bad and the not so great.
EAPO is a community of advocates, caregivers, and changemakers. We seek to give voice to those who aren’t always heard and encourage others to join the cause, because we are not an agency, we are a movement. We are not just service professionals, but we are storytellers and when we come together, we don’t just change the narrative; we change lives.
We are looking forward to what the new year will bring for us all. And, while we work hard at changing the narrative around aging, the message for many is not resonating as it should. As we all inevitably age each day, we have a role to play in building the kind of society that honors and cares for those who once cared for us, because our turn is just around the corner.
EAPO is so privileged to be working in this important space – ensuring that older adults can age with dignity and respect living a quality of life, they so richly deserve. After a lifetime of contributions, they deserve nothing less.
Each day the lives we touch, educate and train would not be possible without the dedication of our staff team: Raeann, Iryna, Laura and Laura, Mary, Sheila and Lily – they ensure that the voice of older adults continues to be heard and supported within our means. Supporting us are the EA Prevention Network members and leaders who volunteer countless hours to engage at the community level and be there when it counts. Finally, thank you to our volunteer Board of Directors, departing and new, for all their invested energies, on behalf of EAPO and never missing a beat to step up and help.
I would like to end my message with shades of hope, that we begin the new year proactively, advocating for the human rights of older persons and encourage every global citizen do their part in shaping the kind of world we all wish to grow old in – free from judgements, neglect and mistreatment and instead working together to nurture a world of kindness, compassion and goodwill towards all, regardless of age, faith or culture.
My profound gratitude to you our community of concerned citizens who share our vision and hopes. May the New Year bring us all renewed energy, spirits and focus to our work, so that TOGETHER we can continue to build stronger and safer communities for all seniors!
Marta C Hajek
CEO, Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
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Launching January 7th, 2025! Aging Vibrantly: Conversations to Empower Seniors 🎙️ Podcast 🎙️
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Be sure to listen to our New Podcast, Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors, where we help amplify the voices of seniors, who share their expertise and wisdom, towards enhancing our understanding of aging issues and ways to live safe, fulfilling lives with respect and dignity.
Every Tuesday, starting January 7th, join EAPO, and our special guests, as they share insights on topics of aging, abuse prevention including ageism, Powers of Attorney, Seniors’ Rights, frauds and scams, the importance of intergenerational connections, and having supportive conversations... and more!
Check out upcoming episodes of our podcast on our YouTube channel or wherever you listen to your podcasts!
This podcast is made possible with funding from the Government of Canada, through the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
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Mark your calendar for January 7th, 2025!
Don’t miss this opportunity to be informed,
inspired, and empowered.
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Episode 1 :
Part 1 : Rebelling Against #Ageism with Guest, Ashton Applewhite
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In this inaugural episode, our guest, Ashton Applewhite, joins us for a lively discussion on Rebelling Against Ageism!
In this 2 Part episode, Ashton provides her insights on defining ageism, its prevalence, impacts and where it shows up in our lives, from health and policy to intergenerational dialogues.
Ashton speaks to reframing how we Think, Feel and Act toward aging that dismantles negative attitudes and behaviours and instead, embraces a world of all ages.
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EAPO Upcoming Training Events | |
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Cultural Trainings: Understanding Older Adult Mistreatment:
A Cultural Lens on Action and Prevention
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For People Working in Senior Services | |
Participants will learn:
- Foundational knowledge on Elder Abuse Mistreatment
- Practical steps to support culturally sensitive prevention and intervention efforts within diverse communities.
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For Elder Abuse Prevention Professionals | |
Participants will learn:
- Strategies for fostering empathy
- Understanding cultural indicators of mistreatment, and
- Tailoring interventions that honour each individual’s cultural identity.
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View EAPO Webinar Recordings | | |
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Holiday Scams and Frauds
The spirit of the holidays is a time of giving for most but, for scammers, it is a time of taking. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre highlights the most popular holiday scams so that you can recognize, reject, report and be merry.
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Human Rights Day - December 10th
2024 Theme: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.
Human rights can empower individuals and communities to forge a better tomorrow. By embracing and trusting the full power of human rights as the path to the world we want, we can become more peaceful, equal and sustainable.
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Presented by: David Burnes, Andria Allen, and Marta Hajek | |
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This presentation provided an overview of the RISE model and initial findings from a randomized control trial designed to test the effectiveness of the RISE/EAPO response framework across Ontario.
RISE is one of the first evidence-based programs, worldwide, dedicated to the prevention and response of elder mistreatment in the community.
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This engaging and informative infographic, provides essential tips for seniors to recognize and avoid gift card scams, a growing form of fraud targeting older adults.
It highlights common red flags, such as unexpected calls demanding payment through gift cards, urgent requests claiming to be from family members in distress, or offers that seem “too good to be true.”
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Elder abuse can occur at anytime, anywhere to anyone, but the holidays present an even greater risk, for older adults. More often than not, older adults find themselves in the company of family or friends who may also the ones committing the abuse.
Download Brochure: EN | FR
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The Canadian Coalition Against Ageism has published its findings from the June 2024 Ageism Forum, which united participants from across the aging sector to explore issues related to aging and ageism.
Four key areas for action were identified to promote significant progress in combating ageism and building a more inclusive society.
Learn more on CCAA website page here.
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The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 report, produced by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), provides a comprehensive overview of mental health, addictions, and substance use (MHASU) in Canada.
The report highlights significant inequities, particularly affecting racialized and Indigenous communities, and calls for urgent action to fulfill Canada's human rights obligations regarding mental health care.
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The report titled, "Programs to Assist Seniors" by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada evaluates federal programs supporting seniors, such as Old Age Security and the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
It highlights shortcomings, including insufficient understanding of seniors' needs, limited assessment of program effectiveness, and concerns about whether benefits are adequate to ensure seniors’ financial security amid a growing aging population.
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The article examines how ageism—prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes based on age—intersects with other forms of discrimination, such as those based on disability, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. It discusses the compounded marginalization older individuals face due to these overlapping biases. The authors analyze self-directed ageism, intergenerational conflicts, and the specific vulnerabilities of older women, particularly concerning elder abuse.
Continue reading here.
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Survivors of abuse financially suffer when their credit reports contain loans and accounts that they were forced into. “People trapped by domestic abuse must often sign documents under the threat of violence, ruining their financial lives and making it even more difficult to escape,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “Expanding identity theft protections could help survivors rebuild their financial lives and would ensure that our credit reporting system is not used as a tool for domestic and elder abuse.”
Continue reading here.
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Upcoming Webinars & Conferences | |
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Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario | www.eapon.ca
416-916-6728 | Toll-Free: 1-833-916-6728
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