Elder Abuse Response: We all have a role

Calgary’s Elder Abuse Response Team (EART) is pleased to present an event to honour the National Victims of Crime Awareness Week.

“Elder Abuse: We all have a role” will be held tomorrow, Thursday, April 25, 2013, to raise awareness about the team and available supports amongst the community and service providers. The event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the University of Calgary downtown campus, Event Centre, 906 8 Ave. S.W.

Professionals working with older adults, members of the public and the media are welcome to attend.

It will feature a panel presentation, including:

Karen Fruetel MEd MD FRCPC, Head, Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Calgary and Medical Leader, Seniors Health, Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone
Daniel W.L. Lai, PhD, RSW, Professor and Associate Dean, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary and Chair, Division of Social Sciences, Canadian Association of Gerontology
Natalie J. Simpson, Elder Law Program Lawyer, Calgary Legal Guidance
Acting Sgt. Graeme Smiley, Calgary Police Service, Elder Abuse Response Team
Halina E. White, Program Coordinator and Consultant, Health Care Apostolate, Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary

Information about elder abuse resources will also be available, and a new digital story will be launched.

Registration:

To register for this free event, the public can go to www.calgaryfamily.org/olderadults or phone 403-269-9888.

Calgary Family Services, the Kerby Centre and the Calgary Police Service partner to have teams of police officers, social workers and a nurse working together to provide a holistic community approach to responding to cases of elder abuse.

EART is funded by the Government of Alberta’s Safe Communities Innovation Fund and Alberta Justice and Solicitor General’s Victims of Crime Fund. Marketing materials and this event are also funded by the Department of Justice Canada Victims Fund.

Calgarians can access EART through the 24-hour Elder Abuse Resource Line at 403-705-3250. Interpretation services are available.