Intent To Do Harm?
Perspectives on Senior Abuse and
Solutions to Support Seniors At-Risk
Central East Regional Elder Abuse Conference
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Registration 8:30 am - 9:00 am
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Registration Includes: Refreshments, lunch and all conference materials.
Presentation Highlights
Perceptions of the Risk of Violence in the Elderly: Caring for Geriatric Patients
Dr. Z. Waisman, FRCPC. Dr. Waisman is a subspecialist in both Forensic Psychiatry and Geriatric
Joanna Holley BA, HON, Psychology, Diploma Rehabilitation Services
Although there has been much attention in geriatric psychiatry, little has been paid to the rising complexity of legal issues as they pertain to geriatric practice and the assessment of violence in long-term care facilities and the interaction of geriatric care providers and the police/courts in situations of violence. Delegates will become familiar with risk management related to capacity issues, including testamentary capacity; Apply risk-management strategies related to resident violence in long-term care facilities and in community settings; and identify risk issues related to working with complex family of patient/ treatment provider/ hospital administration issues.
This presentation will address these issues, with an effort to provide practical suggestions and generate discussion.
Criminally Responsible? A Legal Perspective of Older Adults in the Justice System
Donna Kellway – Assistant Crown Attorney, Scarborough
As an assistant Crown Attorney, she prosecutes numerous homicides and was one of the prosecutors in the recent trial of R. v. Peter Brooks. Mr. Brooks was a resident of a long term care facility in Toronto who was charged with the attempted murder of one resident of the long term care facility and first degree murder in relation to the killing of another resident. A jury acquitted Mr. Brooks of the attempted murder charge, but convicted him of second degree murder in relation to the killing. Ms. Kellway will tell you about some of the challenges that presented themselves in dealing with a trial in which the many of the individuals with relevant evidence to provide in a trial were elderly, from the witnesses to the accused himself. She will recount the challenges faced in dealing with the differing forensic psychiatric opinion evidence in the case, covering topics from the capacity to form intent, the defence raised of “not-criminally responsible” and the issues of fitness to stand trial that were raised by defence and the Court throughout the trial process.
Sensational Self Care
Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW Maureen Pollard Social Work Services
Learn how to recognize and respond to compassion fatigue in this experiential workshop with activities designed to allow personal reflection. Participants will focus on the building blocks of resilience to develop a personal resilience plan with a focus on self care strategies that work.
Elder Mediation for Seniors at Risk; Connecting the Dots for Positive Outcomes
Mary-Anne Popescu, Executive Director of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation
This presentation will provide an in-depth understanding of Elder Mediation, how the program functions, the role of mediators in elder abuse situations, describe expectations of family/those involved, and how agencies and families can access Elder Mediators. Using case studies from past work experience, the speakers will demonstrate how the Mediation program can help people understand the dynamics of how mediation can support older adults and their families in finding solutions and the benefits of using Elder Mediation as an option for intervention.
Registration Includes: Refreshments, lunch and all conference materials.
Dr. Zohar Waisman, MD., FRCPC.(Royal college certified subspecialist in Forensic Psychiatry and in Geriatric Psychiatry)
Dr. Waisman holds a Specialty Certificate in Psychiatry and is currently the only psychiatrist with two Royal College Subspecialty Certifications in Forensic Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry. Forensic Psychiatrists are trained in assessing individuals for various bodies including the courts in matters involving the interplay between law and mental health, choosing whether to focus on criminal or civil litigation. Geriatric Psychiatry is the branch of psychiatry that deals with cognitive disorders such as dementia and neuropsychiatric disorders. He holds a number of positions including: Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist for courts and organizations around the regions of Peel and York, including the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. Panel Member for various boards including the Ontario Review Board and the Consent and Capacity Board. Dr. Waisman also currently holds a faculty position as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and serves as Director of Forensic Education at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. He is an Education Scholar with the Centre for Faculty Development at the Li Ka Shing Building at St. Michael’s Hospital. Dr. Waisman uses his training, experience, and expertise to provide impartial assessments in complex medicolegal issues.
Joanna Holley BA, HON, Psychology, Diploma Rehabilitation Services
Joanna has been championing recovery in the field of behavioural support for over 16 years. She has had opportunities to promote behavioural changes with individuals with a variety of different diagnoses, including: those with Huntington ’s disease, brain injuries, personality disorders, developmental and major neurocognitive impairments.
Joanna joined Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in 2004 as part of the then new Neuropsychiatric Inpatient Unit then moved into an outpatient role in 2009 where she continues to work alongside a multidisciplinary team to develop non-pharmaceutical and behavioral recommendations for individuals living in the community and in Long Term Care.
Joanna regularly delivers education and training in order to help build staff capacity for supporting challenging and complex clients. She is currently chairs the Seniors Network Advisory Panel in York Region and sits on the Behavior Support Service Sustainability Committee for the Central LHIN. She is also currently involved in ongoing research with Dr. Zohar Waisman in the area of risk assessment of violence in the elderly.
Joanna is a Master of Super Mario Galaxy and has had 53 cats and kittens and 3 dogs come through her home since becoming a Foster Parent for the Toronto Humane Society.
Donna Kellway graduated from University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 1993 and was called to the bar in 1995. She articled and
began her criminal practice on the defence side with the firm Pinkofsky Lockyer Kwinter, (this firm that ultimately became
“Pinkofskys.”). She was a lawyer there for 13 years and was the firm’s only full equity female partner.
She joined the Scarborough Crown’s office in 2008 as an Assistance Crown Attorney. She is on the OCAA Education committee and
lectures to her peers and police officers, has volunteered with the Ontario Justice Education Network and assists with other law-
related student activities, including Law in Action within Schools, Court Experience Program. She served as a Board Member of Community Centre 55 for 8 years in the Beaches- East York area of Toronto and she currently is the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Nellie’s Shelter for Women in Toronto. She serves as a mentor with the First Generation Network and is currently co-manager of her youngest child’s Select Hockey Team.
As an OAFM Accredited Family and Elder Mediator in private practice, she works to bring peaceful resolutions that
help families adapt to challenges and changes across the life cycle. Mary-Anne is also a roster mediator for the Office of Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), and the Ministry of Government and Consumer Affairs. In recognition of her volunteer contributions to St. Joseph’s Maternal Health Support Program, Mary-Anne received the Ontario Award for Good Citizens, from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. Mary-Anne supports diversity and acceptance as an ally and volunteer for Toronto PFLAG. She served for eight years as a Panel Member on the City of Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment. Mary-Anne is also the past Chair of the ADR Institute of Ontario’s Family Section and past Board Member of the OAFM.
Elizabeth Sterritt, M.Ed., GDCR., Acc.FM (OAFM), Acc. EM (OAFM), OCT, is a bilingual accredited Family Mediator and an
accredited Elder Mediator in private practice in Ottawa, Ontario. Her practice specializes in elder and family mediation,
as well as personal coaching. She is a certified coach, a master neuro-linguistic practitioner, and a collaborative family
mediator, focusing on the importance of enhancing family communications, with the Collaborative Practice Ottawa
group.
Ms. Sterritt is a member of the board of directors of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation and Chair of the Elder Mediation Committee. As the lead trainer in Elder Mediation for OAFM, Ms. Sterritt is creating an exciting and enriched approach for stimulating the growth in capacity of Elder Mediators in the province of Ontario. A certified train-the-trainer in Elder Mediation, Ms. Sterritt has been training Elder Mediators since 2011. Of special note is her work within the health care field, where she has been a consultant training mediators at the Champlain Community Care and Access Centre, in Ottawa. The highly specialized field of Elder Mediation offers families a unique way to navigate the multifaceted issues of aging and preserve the family identity.
Maureen has been working on the front lines of social work since 1992. With more than 20 years of experience in child
welfare, she now has a private practice in Cobourg, ON. Maureen’s areas of focus include support in parenting through
challenges, in co-parenting through separation and divorce, in traumatic bereavement and in compassion fatigue.
As a compassion fatigue specialist, Maureen provides consultations and support to individuals and workshops for groups who may experience vicarious trauma, moral distress and fatigue while striving to provide excellent care to others. Maureen’s caring approach and light touch with sensitive topics creates a safe environment for personal reflection on matters of resilience and self-care.