ab elder abuse awareness council2022 marks the 20th anniversary for the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council. The AEAAC has accomplished a lot in 20 years to keep older Albertans safe in their communities and is poised to achieve even more, following the release of an updated Alberta government strategy for preventing and addressing elder abuse in July 2022. 

Here are some of the highlights of the past 20 years:

2002 - Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network (AEAAN) forms.

2003 - First commercial developed. Police orientation video about older abuse created.

2006 - Launch of the Community Resource Kit; “Face it” posters and bookmarks printed and distributed across the province.

2006 1st World Elder Abuse Awareness Day public service announcements; events hosted across Alberta by AEAAN members

2007 - Launch of the website www.albertaelderabuse.ca

2009 - Partnership with Alberta Seniors and Community Supports to develop a factsheet on Financial Abuse

2010 - Development of a Service Provider Screening Guide, A Guide to Supported Decision-Making, and a province-wide elder abuse tracking form.

2011 - First Alberta Elder Abuse Conference in Edmonton

2015 -Second Alberta Elder Abuse Conference in Calgary

2016 - AEAAN is registered as a non-profit society in Alberta and rebrands as Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council (AEAAC)

2017-  AEAAC secures a 3-year grant from the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Seniors, hires a Council Development Specialist, sets up a membership, and launches It’s Not Right: Neighbours, Friends and Family (INR) as an ongoing program.

2018 - 3rd Elder Abuse Conference in Edmonton. Launch of the new AEAAC newsletter.

2020 - Updates and presents the Taking Action Against Elder Abuse (TAAEA) training, with permission from the Government of Alberta who originally facilitated this training for service providers working in the area of elder abuse. The AEAAC partners with Healty Aging CORE Alberta to offer online presentations.

2021 - AEAAC oversees the development, implementation and funding of a Community of Practice with case managers across the province.
           AEAAC launches Staying Safe: A Resource for Older Adults Living in Alberta

2022 - The AEAAC oversees the funding of a Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care grant for navigators supporting older adults experiencing elder abuse, with a focus on mental health and addictions.

Coming soon: the 2022 Diverse Voices conference, with a full pre-day on elder abuse, November 16, 2022.