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Breaking the Silence:
Best Practices for Responding to the Abuse of Older Adults

The Seniors & Caregivers program launched Breaking the Silence on September 24, 2004. The guest speaker at the launch was The Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Targeted to individuals working with older persons in a variety of sectors including community services, health care, mental health and addictions, the judicial system and others, this manual uses an approach grounded in an analysis of power and control.

Topics covered include:

• Philosophical framework and guiding principles for working with abused older adults.
• Defining abuse
• Barriers to disclosure
• Profiles of abused older adults and high risk perpetrators
• Identification, assessment and intervention options by types of abuse
• Criminal code responses to abuse in later life
• Cultural considerations
• Safety planning
• Documentation
• Consent and Capacity
• Powers of Attorney, including holding an attorney to account for his/her actions

Information on a variety of systems that abused older adults may interact with is also provided including:

• Police
• The courts (i.e. obtaining restraining orders, peace bonds, exclusive possession orders
• Victim Services
• Victim/Witness Assistance
• Housing

The manual ends with a discussion of wider issues including:

• Developing a community response
• The mandatory reporting debate
• Education of service providers.

A detailed bibliography and listing of web sites is offered as further resources.

While much of the material in this manual is not bound by any particular geographic catchment it is important to note that information about the various systems available to older persons who are abused are specific to the Toronto and/or Ontario context.

Breaking the Silence is now available to the public by order. All proceeds support FSA Toronto’s work with older adults experiencing abuse. Please fill in and mail / fax the order form together with the payment to:

Family Service Association of Toronto
355 Church Street
Toronto, ON M5B 1Z8
Fax: 416-595-0242
Attention: Theresa Sit

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