Virtual Learning Series | 2024

Gender-based Violence among Older Adults:
Supportive Interventions

Monday, May 13th 2024 |1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Thursday, 16th 2024 |1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

In recognition of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, EAPO is hosting a Virtual Learning Series to transform conversations on how we support older adults and unleash the power of agencies to break down walls for building a more robust community response to elder abuse.

Launching the series will be Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), the Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, and principal investigator of an NIA-funded R01 study to understand the causes of abuse of people with dementia.

The Conference will be provided with American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. 

Reserve your spot today!

SPEAKERS

Dr. Laura Mosqueda – Keynote Speaker

Professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse

Session 1: Elder Abuse: Prevention, Detection, and Solutions

Monday, May 13 at 1PM

Session Description: Older adults, particularly those with a dementia, are at risk for being abused. But if we understand the causes and consequences there is much we can do to prevent and ameliorate elder abuse. This opening talk will provide a basis to understand why aging is associated with vulnerability. It will provide practical suggestions on how to address issues such as intimate partner violence, interviewing victims, coordinated responses, and tools to assess the most complex situations. Learners will gain new knowledge and new insights they can apply to their daily work serving older adults and their communities.

Dr. Laura Mosqueda is a professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She is a widely respected authority on elder abuse and care of the elderly and underserved. She is also an expert on medical education curriculum design, development, and implementation.

Before joining USC, she served 16 years at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine. Since joining the Keck School of Medicine of USC her roles have included: Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, Associate Dean of Primary Care, and Dean.

She is the principal investigator of an NIA-funded R01 study to understand the causes of abuse of people with dementia and is the Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, a federally funded initiative that serves as the nation’s coordinating body and clearinghouse for information on research, training, best practices, news, and resources.

In 2022, Dr. Mosqueda also completed fellowship with the Health and Aging Policy Fellowship Program. As a clinician, researcher, educator, and academic administrator, she has a unique perspective that is informed by her extensive experiences in the community, including her role as a volunteer long term care ombudsman.

Denise Koster, LLM, CTM Lic. PI
CEO, Koster Consulting & Associates

Session 2: Shifting Perspectives: Cultivating Cultural Change in Responding to IPV and Elder Abuse in Community-Based Agencies

 Monday, May 13 at 2:30 PM

Densie will advance our understanding of responding to Intimate Partner Violence and Elder Abuse through examining real-life case studies to:

• Explore the complexities of identities and intersectionality in the experiences of IPV and elder abuse survivors, and recognize how these factors influence service provision and promote inclusivity and accessibility in services provided to seniors in communities.

• Examine strategies, including trauma-informed practices, to shift cultural change within community-based agencies to enhance reporting and actions related to IPV and elder abuse, ultimately fostering a safer environment for seniors.
• Understand the concept of positionality and its relevance to responding to and investigating intimate partner violence (IPV) and elder abuse within community-based agencies.

Denise Koster is a seasoned expert in violence prevention and resolution, boasting a career spanning over three decades. With a steadfast commitment to addressing societal issues surrounding violence, Denise founded Koster Consulting & Associates in 1994, inspired by the tragic loss of an elderly Indigenous client to violence. Denise’s journey in her professional trajectory was marked by her role as Clinical Director at a prominent community health centre, where she adeptly managed multidisciplinary teams of medical, nursing, and social service professionals.

Denise has significantly contributed to special assignments such as the Provincial Evaluator for projects like “Project S.A.V. Community Mobilization Empowering Seniors Against Victimization” and “Ontario Family Councils Program.” Denise’s qualifications include being trauma-informed trained and a Licensed Private Investigator, holding a Master of Law (LLM) in Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School, certificates in Human Resources Law and Elder Law, and the prestigious distinction of Certified Threat Manager (CTM), a title held by only approximately 150 individuals worldwide. She’s also the author of the enlightening book, “Refusing to Accept the Unacceptable: The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of Workplace Bullying and Harassment.” Denise specializes in investigating and managing various forms of abuse, including discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and bullying.

Lori Weeks, Phd

Professor, School of Nursing Program Coordinator, PhD in Health (interim) Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University

Session 3: The AIM Study: Supporting Women in Midlife and Older who Experienced Intimate Partner Violence

Thursday, May 16 at 1:00 PM

Dr. Weeks will provide an overview of current knowledge about the needs of women in midlife and older who experience intimate partner knowledge. She will share information about the development and implementation of the AIM Study including the content of the AIM program developed to support women in midlife and older and training community-based researchers to deliver the AIM program.

Lori Weeks, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Nursing at Dalhousie University in Halifax where she also holds a cross-appointment in Gender and Women’s Studies. Her research focuses on the needs of vulnerable older adults in a variety of settings, and she has particular interest in supports for women in midlife and older experiencing intimate partner violence. Lori is also a member of the Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults Research Team affiliated with the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research at the University of New Brunswick. Lori has served on the Board of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, is the Vice-President of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, and is an Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal on Aging.