This article summarizes several documents developed by the IPRAS team under the scientific direction of Marie Beaulieu and Michelle Côté and the strategic and operational direction of Josée Blais and Migüel Alston. These documents are available at www.spvm.qc.ca/en/Seniors.
As first responders, police officers often have access to the most isolated individuals, including those who are older persons. Police officers are often an important gateway for older citizens to the community health and social services network. They are called upon to respond to various elder abuse situations, both at home and in senior living centers.
First responders play a key role in investigating or preventing crimes against older citizens. However, the detection and assessment of elder abuse is not systematic. Although they do identify some cases of mistreatment, most first responders (police officers and firefighters) do not have a standardized approach for detecting cases of elder abuse.
Within the next few years, one of every five Montreal residents will be over the age of 65.1 Currently, in Canada, 4 to 7 percent of people over the age of 65 living at home are mistreated.2 Many cases of elder abuse go unreported, although the rates of underreporting are unknown. Clearly, police officers are and will increasingly be called upon to ensure the safety of older persons, particularly in cases of abuse.
As first responders, police officers often have access to the most isolated individuals, including those who are older persons. Police officers are often an important gateway for older citizens to the community health and social services network. They are called upon to respond to various elder abuse situations, both at home and in senior living centers.
First responders play a key role in investigating or preventing crimes against older citizens. However, the detection and assessment of elder abuse is not systematic. Although they do identify some cases of mistreatment, most first responders (police officers and firefighters) do not have a standardized approach for detecting cases of elder abuse.
