Dear MPP / MLA: (elected in your community - all parties)

I am writing today to introduce Future Us: A Pan-Canadian Roadmap to the Prevention of Elder Abuse, a national engagement strategy led by the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. As a member of [your local network], we request a meeting to talk about the role of [their party] in achieving common goals that will address the issue of elder abuse and ageism in [province/territory].

The Government of Canada has estimated that by the year 2030, seniors will number over 9.5 million and make up 23 percent of Canadians. The Canadian government also reports that as many as 10 per cent of older people experience abuse, most often by a spouse or family member. “Only one in five incidents of elder abuse comes to the attention of those who can help. Is this only the tip of the iceberg? Most likely, especially given the compounding challenge of a rapidly growing aging population.” The time to act is now.

Elder abuse is not an individual issue. It is a societal issue that requires a whole society response. We need to address ageism and all other forms of inequity and discrimination that undermine human rights and increases exposure to violence and abuse.

‍The prevention of elder abuse should be a priority issue in our province/territory. We are working toward this goal as our first step. As a member of [your local network], we request a meeting to talk about how we can work with you to achieve the goals of Future Us that are outlined in the roadmap.  

The future of us – is up to all of us. We look forward to talking with you.

Respectfully,

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Suggestions for the meeting

Go to the meeting prepared with your list of concrete ‘asks’. Focus on Goal 2 and the need to build infrastructure in the form of local and regional networks that are funded. Ask for support on this goal. Ask for their input and advice about how to move forward. Ask them to be a champion.

‘Asks’ for provincial / territorial government officials (no more than 2 or 3):

• Endorse Future Us: A Pan-Canadian Roadmap to the Prevention of Elder Abuse
• If your province/territory doesn’t have a P/T elder abuse network – ask for one. Ask for annualized funding up to the levels described in the roadmap to build infrastructure across the region and to address disparity among the provinces and territories. See the map in Section 2 for a current list of networks.
• Talk about the need for the provincial/territorial government to incent funding in local communities for networks and to cost share with local governments. See the roadmap call for integrated and aligned funding through all levels of government.
• Participate in WEAAD
• Initiate a program to train all government staff to recognize, respond and refer – contract with local network to provide training when possible
• Put the roadmap on their website