The Elder Abuse Response Team Victims of Crime Awareness Week - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

The Elder Abuse Response Team

Victims of Crime Awareness Week Federal Symposium A/Sgt. Graeme Smiley Calgary Police Service Domestic Conflict Unit April 7, 2014

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Staff Sergeant Detective

Internal Investigations

Constable

Domestic Court Liaison

Intake Risk Assessors (2) Sergeant

Elder Abuse Team

Sergeant

Domestic Conflict Response Team

Sergeant

Investigative Team

Sergeant

Habitual Offender Management & Enforcement Team

8 Partnerships

• f:

1 Constable 1 Social Worker

(Partnership with Closer to Home and HomeFront)

2 Partnerships

• f:

1 Constable 1 Social Worker

(Partnership with Calgary Family Services and The Kerby Centre)

4 Partnerships

• f:

2 Constables 1 Team of: 4 Constables HomeFront

Domestic Conflict Unit

Calgary Police Service Crime Prevention & Reduction Continuum

Crime Prevention & Education Crime Reduction, Early Intervention & Treatment Enforcement

Success is measured through a reduction in domestic calls for service and domestic violence.

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

• Action Group on Elder Abuse (AGEA).
• A gap in the Coordinated Community Response to

Elder Abuse.

• AGEA Members…

– Calgary Police Service (law enforcement) – Calgary Family Services (social work) – The Kerby Centre (shelter, resource line)

• … come together to form partnership. 3-year pilot program

beginning in 2011.

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

• For the purposes of file assignment, EART defines

Elder Abuse as follows: – Victim is over 65. – Victim resides in the City of Calgary. – The alleged abuser is in a trusting relationship with the victim. – Suspected that a criminal offence has occurred

• r is occurring.

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

• 3 Full time Police Officers
• 2 Full time Social Workers
• 1 Intake Coordinator (Kerby Centre)
• 1 Part Time Nurse
• 1 Part time Community Development Worker

• In the Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse…
• Investigative response – RESPONSE Team

– Criminal justice, victim safety planning, victim & offender management, civil law referral, social services.

• Continuity of service and support for client.
• Resource to other Professionals.
• Increased awareness of Elder Abuse as an important issue.

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

• EART opened 135 cases of elder abuse in 2013. Over 400

cases have been opened since the beginning of the pilot.

• Types of abuse investigated include neglect, physical violence,

financial, verbal/emotional, medication, sexual.

• Charges: Assault, threats, extortion, criminal harassment,

fraud, theft, breaches of court ordered conditions.

– Note: Financial abuse pervasive across all forms of elder abuse.

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

• Victim’s Mental Capacity – Current & Historic

– Signing of Documents, Statements and Testimony

• Consent.
• Recanting/Reconsidering – The “Open Door”.
• Family Affair - Lack of independent witnesses.
• Civil or Criminal?
• Lack of Case Law

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Social Work Role

• Adjustment counseling
• Referrals to community partners and agencies
• Court orientation, accompaniment to court, updates
• Family/Caregiver Education
• Risk Assessment
• Offender Management

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Referral Sources

• Home Care
• The Way-In Network
• Calgary Seniors Resource Society
• City of Calgary Programs – City Link
• Alberta Health Services
• Mental Health Community Supports
• Legal Aid/Legal Guidance – Elder Law Clinics
• Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
• The Kerby Centre
• Ethno Cultural Community Organizations

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Case Example

• 80 year old sponsored immigrant living with dementia.
• Allegations of neglect, verbal, mental, emotional, and physical

abuse.

• Elements of caregiver burnout, family discord, substance

abuse, and loss of employment by the offenders.

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Intervention

• Meeting with Home Care and the family doctor. Strategizing a

care plan to assist client.

• Joint collaboration between EART and Chinese Elderly Citizens

Association of Calgary.

• Hospitalization.
• Resource counseling for client to seek financial benefits.

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Intervention

• Family education on implications of dementia, and offender

management.

• Transition to a long term care placement.
• Guardianship & Trusteeship (Public Guardian/Trustee).

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Victim Assistance

• Death/Trauma – unique point of contact/access:

– Possible gateway to underlying issues/dependency. – Police Report may only emphasize the at-hand event. – Suicide rate proportionately higher amongst older adults.

• Typical Elder Abuse File:

– Adult relative residing with older adult(s). – Adult relative struggling with mental health, substance abuse, criminal justice system, broken family. – Abuse minimized/under-reported.

• Court Support

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

We All Have a Role

• “FVIR +”:
• FVIR = Family Violence Investigation Report

– How often are you seeing your doctor? – Who is your doctor? – How do you get/renew your medications? – Do you have anyone visiting the home to assist you?

• E.g. Home Care, Social Work, Faith leaders, Friends

– How do the chores get done?

• Cleaning, Groceries, Self Care

– What’s your worst fear now?

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Diverse Communities

• “Not in my community…”
• “In my community, we respect our

elders…”

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

Thank You

A/Sgt. Graeme Smiley Calgary Police Service Domestic Conflict Unit Elder Abuse Response Team

• Tel. (403) 428-2245
• Cell. (403) 703-7909

gsmiley@calgarypolice.ca