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CRANE ~ Medicine Hat CRANE works to prevent elder abuse, neglect and self-neglect through EAR ~ Education, Advocacy and Response. Our strong multidisciplinary partnership problem-solves on issues about crime prevention; family matters; housing or lodging; income support; mental health; nutrition; physical well-being; socialization or recreation; and, transportation.
The CRANE Council was commended for promoting safer communities by Fred Lindsay, Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. The 16th annual Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security Crime Prevention Awards Ceremony was held at the McDougall Centre in Calgary on Friday, May 18th to wrap up Alberta Crime Prevention Week May 13 to 20, 2007. GUIDING PRINCIPLES CRANE’s Goal: To decrease elder abuse and neglect through a coordinated, collaborative community response by providing education, advocacy and response to address the emotional, financial, physical, or sexual abuse and neglect or self neglect of older persons in our community. CRANE’s community based approach to wellness is a partnership among stakeholders, committed to the goal. BACKGROUND In preparation for the public education campaign planned by the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network in November 2003 and to address the alarming number of local enquiries and disclosures about abuse, neglect and self-neglect, the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee (SCAC) and Senior Services at the Veiner Centre, promoted the concept of a coordinated community response. The SCAC agreed on the acronym CRANE to reflect the Community Response to Abuse and Neglect of Elders, while the purpose was to provide an EAR, Education—Advocacy—Response, to enquiries and disclosures. The CRANE logo is based on the origami crane as a symbol of honor, loyalty and hope for a happy ending. CRANE Subcommittees progressed toward strategies for Roles and Responsibilities, Assessment and Referral, Funding Applications and Marketing. More than forty stakeholders, representing the well-being of older persons and families, came together a number of times to develop a service delivery model and its practical application. The Edmonton Elder Abuse Intervention Team members shared their service delivery models, success stories and best practices. Our stakeholders researched funding proposals; developed the Terms of Reference; prepared the Services Directory; participated in the marketing strategy; and, coordinated networking meetings including the official CRANE launch in June 2004 during Seniors Week. Veiner Centre is the focal point of contact weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm. Strong communication links the stakeholders for effective referrals and problem solving through case conferencing. CRANE Champions deliver public awareness sessions using visual aids such as a slide show presentation and table top display as well as distributing the CRANE contact number printed on posters and origami cranes folded by volunteers from age 8 to 80. SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL SELECTION The Veiner Centre has successfully engaged a community based approach to wellness model over the past five years to assess and address gaps and overlaps in local healthy aging initiatives. The multidisciplinary partnership promotes access to information about crime prevention; family matters; housing or lodging; income support; mental health; nutrition; physical well-being; socialization or recreation; and, transportation. This model was applied to the CRANE project, adding in the EAR (Education—Advocacy—Response) component for clarity and complemented by the Edmonton Elder Abuse Intervention Team’s Flow Chart and Intervention Indicator. LINKS Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse Solicitor General and Public Security For further information about CRANE, please contact: Shantel Ottenbreit
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