Almost 200 Georgian College students, along with faculty and community volunteers, gathered at the Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound for an interactive workshop about the issue of elder abuse on Nov. 4. The event was sponsored by the Owen Sound Attack Hockey Club and Georgian College Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.

Students from multiple disciplines including Practical Nursing (RPN), Personal Support Worker (PSW), Police Foundations (PFP), Law Clerk, and the Office Administration programs – enjoyed an afternoon of active learning – led by Georgian instructor and entertaining master of ceremonies Maurice Azzaro.

Guest speakers included Registered Practical Nurse Teresa Tibbo of Parkview Manor in Chesley and Const. Craig Peddle of the Owen Sound Police Service.

"It was a very good learning experience and really opens up your eyes about what goes on in our society and how to make it safe," said Police Foundations student Curran Dixon.

Working in focus groups with students from different programs, participants viewed training videos were developed by Tibbo and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) in Bruce County. Students collectively discussed scenarios of elder abuse and developed intervention and prevention strategies.

Police Foundations students Jesse Palin, Kenneth Mcilwrick, Andrew Jennings and Michael Pruder agreed that raising awareness and encouraging cooperation between police and nurses, PSWs, families involved—all begins with respect.

Rachel Halpin, a PSW student said "it was great to see so many people from different programs learning about abuse—where to go to report it."

Volunteer nurses and police joined students and shared professional insights. Students learned the definitions of elder abuse and neglect and how they, as future health care and police professionals, can work together to protect seniors at risk.

"It's great to see organizations being proactive in educating those working with elders on how to prevent elder abuse," said Const. Krista Linthorne of Grey County OPP.

Collaboration was a key theme as Const. Peddle kept the discussion lively. One first-year RPN student said she "enjoyed the police officer who spoke. He made it fun and exciting to watch him but at the same time spoke to us and gave us so much valuable information."

Const. Dave Ringrose from Hanover Police Service said "to protect the interests of seniors in society, we need to focus a common purpose between professionals, to empower PSWs and nurses to step outside and bring in help, when needed."

Students agreed that the workshop gave them important information that will benefit them as they begin their professional placements in the coming weeks.

source: media release, Georgian College