Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network

Conference Call

Thursday December4, 2014

Participants:

  1. Steve Andrejiw, Family & Community Support Services (Fort McMurray) – Chair
  2. Graeme Smiley, City Police Services (Calgary)
  3. Sherry Dennis, Seniors Outreach Program (Grande Prairie)
  4. Colleen Connelly, Justice & Solicitor General, Government of Alberta (Edmonton)
  5. Pat Power, Edmonton, Senior’s Protection Partnership
  6. Caroline Smigielski, St. Albert
  7. CarolinaVentura, AB Seniors
  8. Lori Therrien, AB Seniors(Edmonton)
  9. Monica Morrison, Golden Circle Seniors Resource Centre (Red Deer)
  10. Kelly-LynnSpafford
  11. Shantel Ottenbreit, Senior Services, City of Medicine Hat

Regrets:

  1. Nicole Quick, RCMP “K” Division
  2. Marilyn Lizee, Metis
  3. Jennifer Payne, LEARN, (Lethbridge)
  4. Raynell McDonough, Seniors Services Division, City of Calgary

-Minutes-

  1. Roll call, Welcome and Quorum

Minute recorder: Colleen, then Monica in Colleen’s absence

Attendance, welcome and quorum was achieved.

  1. Approval of November 6 Minutes with the following amendments

-title of Lori’s colleague Carolina in AB Seniors is Elder Abuse Prevention Advisor

-amend #8 member updates to reflect that Marilyn Lizee has teamed up with local AB Senior staff Bev and is touring around the province doing presentation on AB Senior Benefits and then elder abuse. This was originally attributed to Monica.

  1. Agenda Additions or Amendments

N/A

  1. Confirm Election to Vice Chair

-Steve declined the Vice-Chair position due to time constraints resulting from a major project he is undertaking. Shantel accepted the position. Steve noted that he will continue to work on the website and membership piece.

  1. Proposal for Family and Community Safety Program

-Pat reported that AEAAN has received confirmation of receipt of the application. Applicants can expect to hear whether they were successful sometime in January.

  1. Business Arising from the Minutes

-Gaps recognized in northern representation. Plan to wait until the recipients of the Coordinated Community Response funding are announced, then approach the programs through the membership committee. Network to send a letter of introduction to the new programs. Bring back on the agenda after funding announcement.

-Monica will be supporting Janet with sponsorship but Lori will also supply a list of subcommittees

-Lori still looking for indicators as to effectiveness of help lines. Currently looking at Family Violence Help line and why it is not being used. Colleen noted that sexual assault centres have noticed a trend in decreased crisis line use and a trend toward the use of social media instead. Please provide Lori any information you may have in this area.

  1. Trends and Challenges

-Nothing to report

  1. Member Updates

Pat: I have been involved with a number of presentations since our last meeting. As part of the Financial Empowerment Network I have done 3 presentations one with a seniors centre on the south side and two others at a seniors housing complex. As part of this collaborative there have been 4 other presentations completed. I have done 3 Its Not Right, NFF presentations in past month. I have done one elder abuse presentation as part of Today Centre’s Family Violence across the age spectrum.

With respect to the intervention side of our Team we will be losing a constable as he is being promoted. We are still short a supervisor

Kelly Lynn: increasing awareness in our area and encouraging open lines of communication in surrounding communities

Caroline Smigelski: updating protocols, have seen an increase in elder abuse calls, collecting stats from surrounding area but dealing with issue of confidentiality, evaluating program best practices

Sherry:telephone scams are primary calls being received, providing info on how to deal with calls

Lori Therrien:Grants process is ongoing, still, AB Seniors still undergoing structural change

Monica Morrison: CACA presented on fraud, 100 people attended

  1. NFF Update

-good participation, new slide on “how to keep yourself safe”

  1. National Update

-Pat sharing webinar opportunities

-survey being done nationally to find out if people know what resources are available in their province or area for elder abuse, report will be given to each province in order to address gaps

  1. Subcommittees and Conference updates

-no new updates from membership committee, or on website

conference: presentations and poster presentations confirmed

-December 12th, the program will be ready for the website

-December 15th registration goes live

-e-mail Janet with info to pre-book conference rooms

Sponsorship: waiting to find out results of Victims of Crime Fund committee meeting and Community and Family Safety grant

-other donors

Meeting adjourned 11:10 am.

Next Meeting: January 8th at 10:00AM

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