RISE: Toward Evidence-Based Elder Mistreatment Prevention and Response


Overview

Most Canadian communities lack a coordinated response to elder mistreatment. RISE is one of the first evidence-based programs, worldwide, dedicated to the prevention and response of elder mistreatment in the community, recently selected as a top intervention by the World Health Organization. Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, and in partnership with Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (EAPO), RISE was developed as a solution to address this systems gap. Grounded in theory, research, and survivor input, RISE addresses harm at Relational, Individual, Social, and Environmental levels. Its four core components are: Repair Harm (restorative approaches), Inspire Change (motivational interviewing), Support Connection (teaming), and Empower Choice (client-centered). This presentation will highlight findings from a randomized control trial showing significant psychosocial improvements and share how RISE is being implemented across North America. 

Speakers

Dr. Burnes

Dr. Burnes is a Professor at University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. He holds a Canada Research Chair on Older Adult Mistreatment Prevention. He completed a PhD at Columbia University School of Social, concentrating in gerontology and advanced practice. Dr. Burnes’ program of research focuses on elder mistreatment (EM), including development of basic science (risk factors, prevalence, severity) and the design, evaluation, and measurement of interventions to prevent EM. He has advised major international organizations on EM, such as the World Health Organization and National Institutes of Health, as well as Canadian federal and provincial governments. Dr. Burnes has also advised non-profit organizations, such as state-level adult protective services programs, on the development and implementation of EM support programs. Dr. Burnes and colleagues developed “RISE”, a community-based EM response intervention currently used across the state of Maine and in the initial stages of implementation and testing in Toronto.

Marta Hajek

Marta Hajek, is the CEO of Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario and feels privileged to be leading a modest, but extremely dedicated staff complement, supporting older adults and service professionals alike, when addressing the complexity of issues of EA. Under her stewardship EAPO continues to expand its circle of strategic partnerships across both national and international spectrums.

As Director of Operations, she helped facilitate the rollout of ON 211, now a national information and referral service engaged in the human services sector.

Marta continues to serve on the Seniors Expert Advisory Committee with the ON Securities Commission, as a Board Director with the Canadian Network for the Prevention of EA, is an elected member to the Steering Group of the Global Alliance the Rights of Older Persons (GAROP) and is through EAPO a founding partner of the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA).Most recently Marta joined the Board of the International Longevity Centre - Canada and is a sought after speaker on the intersectionality of elder abuse and human rights violations, including gender-based violence.

In May 2024, Marta once again addressed the United Nation's Open Ended Working Group on Aging as part of the CCAA delegation, advocating for the protection of human rights of this fastest growing demographic and calling for the declaration of a UN convention for the Rights of Older Persons

Laura Ostler

Speaker bio coming soon.