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Welcome to our September e-Newsletter!
As the leaves begin to change and a new season unfolds, we are excited to bring you another issue filled with exciting news stories and updates. This issue serves as a reminder that the change of seasons is an ideal opportunity to recommit ourselves towards creating a safer and more secure Ontario for older adults in our communities.
Within this e-Newsletter, you will find insightful articles, helpful resources, and inspiring stories that shed light on how we can all prevent elder abuse.
This month we recognize significant milestones and important dates that bring focus to issues affecting the lives of older adults: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, National Grandparents’ Day, and World Alzheimer's Day.
We look forward to our continued collaborations with each of you, our subscribers, community partners and the countless volunteers we engage with each day, to create stronger, interconnected, vibrant and safer communities for all seniors in Ontario!
Marta Hajek, CEO
Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
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EAPO Upcoming Events and Webinars | |
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In recognition of
National Seniors Day
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Older Adults and Housing Insecurity
September 27th, 2023
The right to housing is a human right, yet a growing number of Canadians are faced with the challenges of a housing crisis. From housing shortage, to evictions, homelessness, financial abuse and ageism, older adults are particularly at risk and increasingly struggling.
EAPO and CNPEA are co-hosting an online panel discussion with experts in the field to hightlight the current housing challenges that olde Canadians face, the effect it has on their lives as well, as well as promising initiatives and policies, that provide an intersectional and age-friendly solutions.
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Power of Attorney: Advance Directions for Care and Financial Decisions (who decides and how decisions are made)
October 16th, 2023
In this session, presenter, Melanie de Wit, Chief Legal Officer of Unity Health will provide an overview of Power of Attorney for Personal Care & Power of Attorney for Property (Finances), including: helping guide the kinds of decisions that can be set out in POA documents; how a substitute decision maker should approach these decisions about care or finances. Ms de Wit will offer suggestions on how to address ageism and how we can meaningfully communicate our wishes to family and friends, who will be making decisions when we are no longer able to do so for ourselves.
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2 Sided Mirror – Mixed Theatre Company
October 30th, 2023
Join EAPO and the Mixed Company Theatre for an interactive, role-playing based event about navigating a loved one’s life-threatening illness, and supporting older adults through depression and suicidal ideation.
Reality based scenarios will demonstrate how we can support loved ones through major health related choices and the mental health impact, these illnesses can have on everyone involved.
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AGEISM AWARENESS DAY:
SPECIAL EVENT
October 5th, 2023
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
October 7th is Ageism Awareness Day. To mark this occasion, Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, and the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism are teaming up to host a special online event.
The event will bring together Dr. Kiran Rabheru and Margaret Gillis (ILC Canada, co-founders of the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism) and
Dr. Claudia Mahler, the United Nations Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Older Persons.
More information coming soon!
RESERVE YOUR SPOT : https://eapon.ca/Ageism_SpecialEvent
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Is that you, dear? Why seniors may be worse at detecting voice-generated AI — and the scams that use it
Scientists suggest seniors may be less attuned to the emotion-free speak of AI (Artificial Intelligence technology). But what if it’s tied to our confusion over how younger humans speak?
If you are an older adult perhaps pay attention, since you’re the audio scammers ideal target. Not because you’re confused by new technology. Not because your open and generous nature makes you fork over thousands of dollars to strangers. And not even because — although this seems like the obvious answer — you don’t hear as well as you once did...
Continue reading here
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5 Cyber Scams Targeting Seniors
Elder fraud can take many forms and is a growing problem in Canada and worldwide. With a general rise in online scams — and seniors’ increased adoption of smartphones and the internet — cyber crimes against Canada’s older population are resulting in staggering financial losses. Why are seniors targets for cyber fraud?
Continue reading here
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Grandparent's Day
Grandparents! Where would we be without them?
Traditionally observed on the first Sunday after Labor Day, National Grandparents Day is celebrated this year in Canada on Sunday, September 10, 2023.
Continue reading here
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New Elder Abuse Reports and Resources | |
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Report on violence, abuse and neglect of older persons
NEW PUBLISHED 7 August 2023
In the present report, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 51/4, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Dr. Claudia Mahler, provides an overview of her activities during the reporting period and a thematic analysis of violence against and abuse and neglect of older persons. She examines the different manifestations of abuse in older age and reviews prevention and protection measures.
Read full Report
See available official language
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Respecting Resident Rights in Long-Term Care
NEW, FREE Orientation eLearning Course
This is a self-paced, interactive eLearning course that reviews the 29 resident rights defined in the Fixing Long-Term Care Act.
Everyone working, volunteering , or visiting long-term care homes plays a significant role in ensuring residents feel at home, are treated with kindness and respect, and receive the necessary support and services for their health and well-being. Throughout this course, learners will immerse themselves in an interactive long-term care setting that incorporates real-life situations shared by Ontario LTC residents.
Created by the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation (CLRI) in Long-Term Care at the Research Institute for Aging (RIA) in consultation with OARC Resident Leaders.
Learn more about the course here.
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Affordable Lifetime Pension Income for a Better Tomorrow
A report published by the NIA and the Global Risk Institute explains why Dynamic Pension pools are urgently needed to make retirement income security possible for millions of Canadian seniors. With 10 million baby boomers now entering retirement — with longer life expectancies and a greater dependency on private savings to sustain them — it’s more important than ever to find solutions that will help retiring Canadians turn their accumulated savings into low-cost lifetime pension income.
Read the report here
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In the third annual Vaccine Report Card (2022-23), CanAge, Canada's national seniors advocacy organization is sending a sharp warning that Canada needs to start taking national immunization seriously, particularly for Influenza, Shingles, and Pneumonia. This warning is also in the context of the approval of the long-anticipated RSV vaccine for Canadian adults 60+, currently under recommendation review by NACI.
Read: National Media Release
Download: CanAge vaccine-report-2022-2023
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The CMA developed a series of ambitious targets that governments can use to drive health system improvements. These targets build on the conditions included in the 2023 federal, provincial and territorial bilateral agreements on health. They also build on solutions the CMA has long been advocating for such as pan-Canadian health workforce planning, scaling up team-based primary care, and expanding the mobility of health professionals.
Read the report here
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Fraud and Scam Prevention for Older Adults | |
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Identifying home improvement and loan scams targeting seniors: A guide to protecting vulnerable adults
Home improvement projects can be a great way to update and enhance your living space. For some older adults in Canada, however, these projects can sometimes lead to scams and financial abuse. This article informs seniors
how to spot a scammer and how to protect against scams and frauds.
Read Article
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Do you want to learn more on financial abuse prevention?
The CBA offers a financial literacy seminar: Your Money Seniors. Bankers volunteering their time, will deliver a free in-person or online seminar to seniors’ groups. Request a seminar by :
Email : yourmoney@cba.ca or
Online: Click Here
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Introducing the new GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca
Being educated and informed as an investor helps you better protect and grow your money. Take a moment and tour the new GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca. The Ontario Securities Commission's (OSC) popular education website has new artificial intelligence tools, the latest accessibility features, and significant design innovations. Read about all it features here
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Opportunities for making a difference for Older Canadians | |
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Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is recruiting candidates to fill vacancies on the National Seniors Council.
ESDC is looking to recruit candidates with expertise and experience working with older adults or on population aging issues to fill vacancies on the National Seniors Council. ESDC is seeking applicants who represent and have experience working with Canada’s diverse population, including: older adults; immigrants; 2SLGBTQI+ people; women; visible minorities; Indigenous people; disability communities. Make sure to apply by October 3.
View the Notice of Appointment Opportunity and apply here
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Documentary Film Call for Participants
NEW
Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario has teamed up with a documentary film company, Rotating Planet Productions, to raise awareness about their new film on Ageism, entitled
“A Class of Ages”, set to air Winter 2024.
As a movement for seniors’ rights intensifies around the world, “A Class of Ages” follows the story of a mixed class of students and seniors, who, over the course of their semester at the University of Toronto, clash with the idea that generational segregation has fueled an epidemic of ageism, loneliness, and social exclusion. This class will act as a portal to other intergenerational initiatives and necessary conversations surrounding ageism so that every Canadian can age with dignity.
In order to tell this incredibly important and timely story, the team at Rotating Planet Productions is looking for senior volunteers who would be comfortable sharing their personal experience of ageism and elder abuse to raise visibility and awareness for the reality that older adults face in long-term care homes, the workplace, hospitals, health centres, home, and in society as a whole.
Rotating Planet understands this difficult topic should be handled with extreme care and compassion. Therefore, they are offering volunteers the choice to sharing their story anonymously, either on-screen or off, to ensure each interaction is completely confidential unless stated otherwise. Interviews can be conducted by phone or in-person.
If you are interested in being involved in the film, please contact development researcher, Clare Duncan, at clare@rotatingplanet.com by October 15, 2023.
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Education Fund for Long-Term Care Team Members | |
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The Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (Ontario CLRI) at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is pleased to announce the renewed funding for enhanced training for direct-care team members in long-term care (LTC). The funds will be distributed through the Personal Support Worker Education Fund in Long-Term Care (PSW Fund) and are provided by the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care.
Learn more here
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Inclusive Community Grant Recipients | |
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The Township of Alfred and Plantagenet is receiving $60,000 from the Inclusive Community Grants Program to build an Elder Park.
This program supports projects that help make Ontario more inclusive and accessible for everyone.
Ontario’s Inclusive Community Grants Program supports community projects that:
* benefit local communities
* promote accessibility, safety and active living for people of all ages and abilities meet the needs of seniors and people with disabilities
Learn about ALL the projects that received funding here
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Upcoming Webinars & Conferences
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RHRA’s Virtual AGM and Recognition Event
September 21, 2023, from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
The AGM will include remarks from RHRA CEO and Registrar, Jay O’Neill, and RHRA Board Chair, Alex Yuan, as well as the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility, the Hon. Raymond Cho.
RHRA will also share stories of remarkable retirement home residents as part of our Resident Champion Award, as well as a Community Partner who has provided assistance to RHRA in its resident protection mandate. RSVP here
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CNPEA AGM
Thursday, September 21, 2023
10 AM to 11:30 AM (PT) /
1 PM to 2:30 PM (EST))
Register Here
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Fulfilling the Promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons Across Generations
2nd October 2023 10:00 am-1:00 pm EDT
The UNIDOP aims to enshrine and promote the rights of older persons, and to engage and mobilize advocates to protect those rights.
The event will be held in-person and also broadcasted via UN Web TV (https://media.un.org) that will involve a multistakeholder dialogue. Register here
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Walk With Me Conference: Call for Sessions
Do you have an innovative and creative idea to help reimagine senior living? This is your opportunity to share! Submit your mini-workshop, panel, knowledge exchange or creative expression/performance session for
#WalkWithMe2024 by September 19.
Walk with Me (WWM) is a national conference aimed at changing the culture of aging in Canada. For more information visit the-ria.ca/walkwithme
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Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario | www.eapon.ca | 416-916-6728 |
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