That's a Wrap, Let's Start the New Year

With the holiday festivities behind us and a new year already underway, our CRNs are busy planning and hosting many educational and social events. Invermere CRN Coordinator Leanne Brooks set up a table just before Christmas at the local Sobey’s to raise awareness of adult abuse, neglect and self-neglect. Kamloops CRN wrapped up the year on Christmas Eve with A Seniors Christmas, delivering almost 450 care packages to Kamloops seniors. Nelson CRN is continuing its annual support of the Drop-off Program, recently renamed the Good Food Drop Program in partnership with the Community Food Centre. And Cranbrook CRN is continuing their ongoing Seniors Meeting Seniors program this year.

Read more for highlights from around the province

Board of Directors and Regional Mentors Update

BC CRN wishes to thank our outgoing Board Member Elisse Tan and Regional Mentor Laura Beamish of the North Eastern region for their years of service. We want to welcome new Board Members Dr. Balbir Kaur Gurm and Michael Volker, who will serve as our Treasurer. We also want to welcome Lorna Penner as Regional Mentor for the North East region.

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CREA Calls for Project Grant Proposal Submissions

The British Columbia Council to Reduce Elder Abuse (CREA) is now calling for Capacity Building grant submissions for the 2025-2026 term, and invites all current and prospective grantees to apply. Deadline for submissions is February 20, 2025. All projects must provide increased knowledge/information to advance the Mission of the Council to Reduce Elder Abuse, which is to raise awareness about elder abuse and neglect prevention, recognition, and response amongst stakeholders in British Columbia.

Visit the CREA website for more information.

JQT Seniors Initiative Training Workshop

The Jewish Queer Trans Seniors Initiative is offering a free online training workshop scheduled for February 19, 2025, from 9am - 12pm PST.

The goal of this workshop is to build upon identified and potential allies within different types of healthcare services for seniors and offer support, education and training to any care providers who express an interest and willingness to learn more about the needs of our Jewish queer and trans community. 

Learn more and register

Financial Abuse Investigators Gather for One-Day Conference

On November 19, the Council to Reduce Elder Abuse (CREA) hosted a Financial Abuse Investigators conference in Langley. The invitation-only event was attended by over 50 representatives from the BC RCMP, health authorities, financial institutions, BC Securities Commission, Community Living BC, The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) and others.

The full-day event included presentations and case studies that engaged participants in exploring their potential roles in addressing financial abuse as well as some of the community resources.

Learn more

BC Seniors Advocate Reports on Ageism, Seniors’ Abuse, 2025 Initiatives

Dan Levitt, BC Seniors Advocate, was the guest presenter for BC CRN’s January Provincial Learning Event webinar. A knowledgeable and longtime expert on the topics of aging and supporting seniors, Levitt presented with humour and humility. He spoke about ageism and its link to abuse, neglect and self-neglect, as well as other pressing issues affecting seniors’ quality of life.

Levitt delved into the numbers behind health, working seniors, affordability and waitlists for long term care. He also answered viewers’ questions and offered solutions. 



Watch a video recording of the presentation

Provincial Learning Event: Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC

February 18, 2025 | 10:30am - 12:00pm PST

BC CRN is excited to welcome Lisa Dawson, Vice President of Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC (ILTCCABC) for February’s Provincial Learning Event online webinar.

Participants will learn about how ILTCCABC represents the collective voice of residents, their families and representatives. Belonging to a council enables residents and families to become involved in decisions that affect residents’ care and quality of life at the local, regional and provincial levels.

Register

See Something, Say Something! Online Presentation

February 4, 2025 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm PST

You are invited to join us for this dynamic online presentation. The See Something, Say Something! Reducing Risk for Older Adults program is designed to help identify high-risk adults, particularly those who live alone and who may be isolated. Everyone can play an important role in the community in keeping others safe, secure and independent. 

Register

Introduction to Extreme Clutter

March 4, 2025 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm PST

Clutter is formally defined as “a large group of usually unrelated or marginally related objects piled together in a disorganized fashion in spaces designed for other purposes (e.g. tabletops, floor, hallway).”

This online presentation will help people understand what clutter, hoarding, collecting and squalor are, and that not everyone who collects, lives in clutter or squalor is actually affected by the Hoarding syndrome.

Register