Newfoundland and Labrador Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NLNPEA)
The Newfoundland and Labrador Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NLNPEA) is a collaborative network of organizations and individuals across Newfoundland and Labrador committed to preventing and addressing elder abuse. Operating under the umbrella of SeniorsNL, the network works to raise awareness, provide education and resources, support seniors and caregivers, and advocate for systemic change. Through collaboration, public education, and coordinated services, NLNPEA strives to foster communities where older adults are safe, supported, and treated with dignity and respect.
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Background
In 1992, SeniorsNL (previously known as the Senior Resource Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador) brought together expertise from government and the community to form a committee to raise awareness of elder abuse and to share information about referral and intervention services.
The role of this committee, then called the Interagency Elder Abuse Committee, evolved to include overseeing SeniorsNL’s Elder Abuse projects. This included the development of a speakers Bureau in 1996 to offer presentations about elder abuse. In 2005, the committee developed a Strategic Plan to Address Elder Abuse in Newfoundland and Labrador and presented to the provincial government. The plan made recommendations to both government and community around six key provincial elder abuse issues: elder abuse legislation, community response to elder abuse, public awareness and education, training and screening for service providers, caregiver support, and research.
In 2006, the Interagency Elder Abuse Committee changed its name to the Elder Abuse Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador (EACNL) to reflect its expanded membership to the provincial structure. In 2010, EACNL received funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program to develop into a provincial network. The inaugural meeting of the Newfoundland and Labrador Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NMLNPEA) was held in October 2011. The network is an integral part of SeniorsNL’s efforts to address elder abuse in our province.
Mission, Mandate, Vision, & Values
Mission:
To provide information and support to individuals and organizations (from both community and government) working to prevent elder abuse and/or provide services to those affected by this issue.
Mandate:
As an integral part of SeniorsNL, the NLNPEA will foster relationships among its members and partners so they can work collaboratively and improve their collective impact on the prevention of elder abuse.
The Network will do this by:
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Raising public awareness of elder abuse and intervention services through:
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the provision of information; and,
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by supporting activities associated with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and other elder abuse initiatives.
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Liaising at regional, provincial, and national levels with community, government, and other agencies that work on elder abuse to:
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share information and best practices
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identify gaps in elder abuse services
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encourage and support research, and
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provide input on matters of policy.
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Vision:
Older persons will live in safe, caring communities where there is zero tolerance of abuse. This will be fostered by community awareness, protective legislation, and coordinated, responsive programs and services aimed at preventing abuse and providing a range of options for those who experience abuse and the individuals who support them.
Values:
NLNPEA believes that older adults should be respected and valued and have the opportunity to be engaged in all aspects of society. This can be achieved through supporting respectful relationships, choice, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
Members
NLNPEA members are individuals from government, organizations, agencies, associations, and the community who have a direct interest in addressing the issue of elder abuse. This includes representation from the four health authority regions in the province. Membership is free to any interested individual or group, but registration with the network is required. Members meet several times a year.
If you are interested in joining the NLNPEA, or want to know more, contact info@seniorsnl.ca