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Abuse of Older Adults:
Department of Justice Canada Overview Paper

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Endnotes

  • 1 Please note that many different definitions of “abuse of older adults” are used in Canada. The National Seniors Council on Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization use the following definition of elder abuse, developed by Action on Elder Abuse in the United Kingdom: “A single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.” National Seniors Council on Elder Abuse, Report of the National Seniors Council on Elder Abuse (November 2007). Submitted to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State (Seniors). Available online at:
  • 2 Please note that although age 65 and over is one of the more common ages used to define “older adults” other organizations may use different age ranges.
  • 3 Public Health Agency of National Clearinghouse on Family Violence. Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults: A Discussion Paper. Prepared by L. McDonald and A. Collins for the Family Violence Prevention Unit, Health Canada. Ottawa: Health Canada, 2000.
  • 4 The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV) has published a number of resources on abuse of older adults including a fact sheet on self-neglect by older adults. This fact sheet and other relevant resources are available online.
  • 5 Health Canada. National Clearinghouse on Family Violence. Preventing and Responding to Abuse in Long-Term Care Facilities: Lessons Learned from the Evaluation of the Abuse Prevention in Long-Term Care Project (APLTC). Report prepared by Wanda Jamieson and Liz Hart, JHG Consulting (Ottawa: National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 2003).
  • 6 Much of the information in this section is drawn from the following sources:
    • Judith Wahl and Sheila Purdy, Elder Abuse: The Hidden Crime (Toronto: Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and Community Legal Education Ontario, 2005);
    • M.J. Stones, “Scope and Definition of Elder Abuse and Neglect in Canada” in Michael J. MacLean, Abuse and Neglect of Older Canadians: Strategies for Change, edited by Michael J. MacLean (Ottawa: Canadian Association on Gerontology & Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc., 1995);
    • Health Canada, Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults: A Discussion Paper. Prepared by L. McDonald and A. Collins for the Family Violence Prevention Unit (Ottawa: Health Canada, 2000);
    • Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2002 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No: 85-224, 2002);
    • Charmaine Spencer, “Abuse and Neglect of Native Elders” Stopping the Violence, Changing Families, Changing Futures, edited by Mary Russell et al. (Vancouver: British Columbia Institute Against Family Violence, 1996).
  • 7 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2005 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224 XIE, 2005): 81.
  • 8 Marie Beaulieu and Charmaine Spencer, “Older Adults’ Personal Relationships and the Law in Canada: Legal, Psycho-Social and Ethical Aspects” prepared for the Law Commission of Canada, September 1999.
  • 9 See for example:
    • Alberta: Dependent Adults Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. D-11;
    • British Columbia: Adult Guardianship Act (Part Three), R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 6;
    • Manitoba: Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act, C.C.S.M., c. V90;
    • New Brunswick: Family Services Act Part III, Protection Services, S.N.B. 1980, c. F-22;
    • Newfoundland and Labrador: Neglected Adults Welfare Act, R.S.N.L., c. N-3;
    • Nova Scotia: Adult Protection Act, R.S.N.S 1989, c. 2;
    • Prince Edward Island: Adult Protection Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. A-5;
    • Yukon: Decision Making Support and Protection to Adults Act (which includes Schedule A, Adult Protection and Decision-Making Act, Part 4 Adult Protection) S.Y. 2003, c. 21;
  • 10
    • Alberta: Protection Against Family Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. P-27;
    • Manitoba: The Domestic Violence and Stalking Act, C.C.S.M., c. D 93;
    • Prince Edward Island: Victims of Family Violence Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. V-3.2;
    • Saskatchewan: The Victims of Domestic Violence Act, S.S. 1994, c. V-6.02;
    • Newfoundland and Labrador: Family Violence Protection Act, S.N.L. 2005, c. F-3.1;
    • Northwest Territories: Protection Against Family Violence Act, S.N.W.T. 2003, c. 24;
    • Nova Scotia: Domestic Violence Intervention Act, S.N.S, 2001, c. 29;
    • Nunavut: Family Abuse Intervention Act, S.Nu. 2006, c. 18;
    • Yukon: Family Violence Prevention Act, R.S.Y. 2002, c. 84.
  • 11 See for example:
    • Alberta: Protection for Persons in Care Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. P-29;
    • British Columbia: Adult Care Regulations, B.C. Reg. 536-80 (pursuant to the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 75;
    • Manitoba: Protection for Persons in Care Act, C.C.S.M., c. P144;
    • Nova Scotia: Protection for Persons in Care Act, S.N.S. 2004, c. 33;
    • Ontario: Nursing Homes Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. N.7.
  • 12 Charte des droits et libertés de la personne, R.S.Q. c. C-12.
  • 13 Marie Beaulieu and Charmaine Spencer, “Older Adults’ Personal Relationships and the Law in Canada: Legal, Psycho-Social and Ethical Aspects” prepared for the Law Commission of Canada, September 1999.
  • 14 This section presents the available national data on abuse of older adults. It is important to note, however, that, overall, older adults in Canada are less likely than other age groups in the population to be victims of violence in general. According to the 2004 General Social Survey, the violent victimization rate reported by older adults was almost four times lower than for 55 to 64 year olds and almost 20 times lower than for 15 to 24 year olds. Lucie Ogrodnik. Seniors as Victims of Crime 2004 and 2005 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics 2007. Cat. No. 85F0033MIE, no.14): 8. According to police-reported data for 2006, consistent with previous years, individuals 65 years of age and older were the group least likely to be victims of crime in 2006. Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): 35.
  • 15 Statistics Canada. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2000 No. 85-224 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224, 2000): 6, 27-28. Note: The General Social Survey (GSS) is a telephone survey and therefore may not reach individuals who do not have a telephone, are infirm, have hearing difficulties, or are isolated in other ways. The GSS only interviews individuals living in private households; interviews with residents of institutions are not conducted in this survey. There is no national data on abuse of older adults in institutions: see Charmaine Spencer et al. “National Snapshot: Preventing Elder Abuse of Older Adults in Institutions”. Prepared for the national project A Way Forward: Promoting Promising Approaches to Abuse Prevention in Institutional Settings, May 2008. See also: Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2002 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224, 2002): 27; Health Canada. Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults: A Discussion Paper. Prepared by L. McDonald and A. Collins for the Family Violence Prevention Unit (Ottawa: Health Canada, 2000): 18.
  • 16 Ogrodnik, Lucie. Seniors as Victims of Crime 2004 and 2005 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. 2007 Cat No. 85F0033MIE, no. 14): 14.
  • 17 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): 35, Table 3.1, 37.
  • 18 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): 35.
  • 19 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): Table 3.2, 37.
  • 20 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2005 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224 XIE, 2005): 80.
  • 21 There were 605 police-reported homicides in Canada in 2006. Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): 41.
  • 22 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): 41.
  • 23 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2002 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-2002): 30.
  • 24 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2005 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224 XIE, 2005): 65.
  • 25 Statistics Canada. Age and Sex Highlight Tables, 2006 Census (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 97-551-XWE, 2007), cited in Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2007 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224 XIE, 2007): 32.
  • 26 National Seniors Council on Elder Abuse. Report of the National Seniors Council on Elder Abuse (November 2007). Submitted to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State (Seniors).
  • 27 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): Table 3.1, 37.
  • 28 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): Table 3.1, 37.
  • 29 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2007 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224 XIE, 2007): 35.
  • 30 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): 41.
  • 31 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2002 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224 XIE, 2002): 30.
  • 32 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2005 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224 XIE, 2005): 65.
  • 33 Health Canada, Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults: A Discussion Paper. Prepared by L. McDonald and A. Collins for the Family Violence Prevention Unit (Ottawa: Health Canada, 2000): 30.
  • 34 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2007 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224, XIE, 2007): 35.
  • 35 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2005 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224 XIE, 2005): 80.
  • 36 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): 41, Table 4.6, 46.
  • 37 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2007 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224 XIE, 2007): 36.
  • 38 Systemic abuse refers to institutional procedures and processes that result in or maintain harmful situations. Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2002 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224, XIE, 2002): 26.
  • 39 Charmaine Spencer, “Abuse and Neglect of Native Elders,” in Stopping the Violence, Changing Families, Changing Futures, edited by Mary Russell et al. (Vancouver: British Columbia Institute Against Family Violence, 1996):24
  • 40 Marie Beaulieu and Lise Bélanger, “Interventions in Long-Term Care Institutions with Respect to Elder Mistreatment,” in Abuse and Neglect of Older Canadians: Strategies for Change, edited by Michael J. Maclean (Ottawa: Canadian Association of Gerontology & Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing Inc., 1995): 28-32. Health Canada. Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults: A Discussion Paper. Prepared by L. McDonald and A. Collins for the Family Violence Prevention Unit (Ottawa: Health Canada, 2000): 21.
  • 41 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): 36, Table 3.3, 38.
  • 42 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008 (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 85-224-X, 2008): Table 3.3, 38.
  • 43 Statistics Canada. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Income in Canada (Ottawa: Statistics Canada; Cat. No. 75-202-X, 2006): 89. Note: For unattached individuals aged 65 years and over, 14 percent of men and 16.1 percent of women had low incomes after tax in 2006. (see Table 11-1 Persons in Low Income After Tax (92—LICOs base), showing prevalence and estimated number—Canada at 89).
  • 44 National Seniors Council on Elder Abuse. Report of the National Seniors Council on Elder Abuse (November 2007). Submitted to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State (Seniors).

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