Funding will support those who have experienced, are experiencing, or are at-risk of experiencing violence.
Toronto – Mistreatment of older persons can have serious health and psychosocial consequences, including premature mortality, poor physical and mental health, diminished quality of life, and increased rates of emergency services use, hospitalization, and nursing home placement. These issues touch families in all parts of Canada, and include many forms of physical, financial and emotional abuse, as well as neglect.
Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Labour and Seniors, on behalf of Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced nearly $800,000 in funding to the University of Toronto to implement and evaluate RISE, a community program to help respond to mistreatment of older persons.
The program will focus on involving family and friends, as well as formal support services, to change the relationship between the person experiencing mistreatment and the person causing harm. The project aims to gather evidence about what strategies are effective in preventing mistreatment of older persons, for whom they work best, and in what situations they have the greatest impact.
This project is made possible through targeted funding for older persons from the Preventing and Addressing Family Violence – the Health Perspective Investment. The Government of Canada will continue to take action to prevent mistreatment of older persons, support survivors, and break the cycle of violence in families and communities from coast to coast to coast.
“Mistreatment of older persons inflicts deep emotional wounds, and can lead to feelings of fear, shame, and isolation. Our commitment to addressing and preventing mistreatment of older persons in Canada goes beyond protecting their physical safety; it extends to nurturing their mental health, fostering resilience, and reclaiming the joy and dignity that every person deserves.” – Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
“Seniors deserve to age with dignity and choice. That can’t happen when seniors are fearing for their safety. Research in elder abuse is how we’ll build the tools we need to stop it.” – Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Labour and Seniors