Any discriminating situation created or tolerated by organizational procedure (private, public or community institutions providing all types of care and services) responsible for providing care or service of all types to older adults.
The accepted French-language vocabulary concerning the actions to counter mistreatment that is presented is the result of the work done by the Comité québécois de terminologie sur la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées effectué sous la direction de la Chaire. Le comité est composé de :
- The Research Chair on Mistreatment of Older Adults;
- Le Centre de recherche et d’expertise en gérontologie sociale (CREGÉS) du CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de- l’Île-de-Montréal;
- The provincial Elder Mistreatment Helpline of the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de- l’Île-de-Montréal;
- The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse;
- The Coordonnateurs régionaux spécialisés en matière de la lutte contre la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées;
- The secrétariat aux aînés;
- The Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux.
Coming from collaborative work, this terminology is an update to the 2017 version that was realized under the direction of the Centre de recherche et d’expertise en gérontologie sociale (CREGÉS) du CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. It represents the evolution of practical and scientific knowledge in Quebec on the subject of countering mistreatment of older adults. Over the years, this lexicon will be adjusted with the development of new clinical and scientific knowledge.
We are very pleased to make this work accessible through our website. Please note that this terminology will also be disseminated to all of our working partners.
- For the terminology:
- Chaire de recherche sur la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées, Centre de recherche et d’expertise en gérontologie sociale (CREGÉS) et la Ligne Aide Abus Aînés (LAAA) du CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de- l’Île-de-Montréal, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, Coordonnateurs régionaux de la lutte contre la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées, Secrétariat aux aînés & Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux. (2022). Terminologie sur la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées 2022, 2p.
- For the explanatory document that accompanies the terminology
- Chaire de recherche sur la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées, Centre de recherche et d’expertise en gérontologie sociale (CREGÉS) et la Ligne Aide Abus Aînés (LAAA) du CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, Coordonnateurs régionaux de la lutte contre la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées, Secrétariat aux aînés & Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux. (2022). Document explicatif : Terminologie sur la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées 2022. Chaire de recherche sur la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées. 9p.
© Chaire de recherche sur la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées, Centre de recherche et d’expertise en gérontologie sociale (CREGÉS) et Ligne Aide Abus Aînés (LAAA) du CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, Coordonnateurs régionaux spécialisés en lutte contre la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées, Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, Secrétariat aux Aînés du Gouvernement du Québec, 2022.
** As a result of the evolution of terminology, it is possible that older versions are still in circulation in various sectors. Please take note of the document’s release date located in the upper right-hand corner. Furthermore, certain practical environments may have adopted terminology specific to their reality. Also, please respect our copyrights (©) situated at the end of our documents.
Definition of the mistreatment of older adults
“Mistreatment is an act, word, attitude or lack of appropriate action, singular or repeated, occurring within any relationship with a person, a community or an organization where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an adult, whether the person deliberately wants to cause harm or not.”
Definition (inspired by the WHO (2002). The Toronto Declaration on the Global Prevention of Elder Abuse and the Act to combat maltreatment of seniors and other persons of full age in vulnerable situations. (RLRQ, chapter L-6.3)
FORMS OF MISTREATMENT (MANIFESTATIONS)
Violence: Poor treatment of an older adult, or making the older adult act against his or her will, through the use of force and/or bullying*.
Neglect: Failure to show concern for the older adult, particularly by not taking appropriate action to meet his or her needs.
* “Bullying of older adults is an act, or the absence of action, of a single or repetitive nature that is generally deliberate and is committed directly or indirectly within a relationship of force, power or control between individuals, which is motivated by the intent to cause harm to one, or more, older adults.” (See Beaulieu, M., Bédard, M.-È. & Leboeuf, R. (2016). L’intimidation envers les personnes aînées : un problème social connexe à la maltraitance? Revue Service social. 62(1), 38-56.)
INTENTION BEHIND MISTREATMENT
Intentional mistreatment: The person deliberately causes harm to the older adult.
Unintentional mistreatment: The person does not want to cause harm or does not understand the harm being caused.
NB: It is important to assess the signs and situation to avoid drawing hasty conclusions or labelling people.
Discrimination based on age, through hostile or negative attitudes, harmful actions or social exclusion.
Illegal, unauthorized or dishonest acquisition or use of the older adult’s property or legal documents; lack of information or misinformation regarding financial or legal matters.
Attitudes, words, gestures or absence of appropriate actions with a non consensual sexual connotation which are harmful to the person’s well-being, sexual integrity.
Attitudes, words, gestures or absence of appropriate actions, which harm the physical well-being or integrity
Attitudes, words, gestures or absence of appropriate actions that negatively affect an individual’s psychological well-being or integrity
If you witness or are victim of a mistreatment situation and wish to obtain information or help, please contact the Elder Abuse HelpLine (for Quebec residents).