Research program

The overall objective of the research program is to document the phenomenon of mistreatment of older adults in Quebec in order to offer or clarify improvements to the measures against mistreatment. The research program has two separate orientations. Within each, the Chair will establish and lead team projects composed of specialists with complementary skills. The proposed program is part of a synergy of funding, that is to say that its full realization is dependent upon the chair holder obtaining additional grants.

Orientation 1 : develop theoretical, empirical and practical (praxeological) knowledge on the scope of the phenomenon and on its impacts (Theme 1) and on the vulnerability and risk factors associated with mistreatment (Theme 2).

Orientation 2 : formulate a development and evaluation research program on the most diversified, complementary and effective actions (prevention, detection and intervention) to prevent and counter mistreatment.

ORIENTATION 1 – DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE

In Orientation 1, for information purposes, the following projects are planned.

Theme 1 – Scope of the phenomenon and of its impacts

• Project 1 – Define mistreatment and develop appropriate questions to measure the scope
• Project 2 – Ideations and suicidal behaviour among mistreated older adults
• Project 3 – Is self-neglect a form of mistreatment?

Theme 2 – Vulnerability and risk factors associated with mistreatment

• Project 1 – Is the vulnerability of older adults to mistreatment gender-based?

ORIENTATION 2 – DEVELOP AND EVALUATE ACTIONS

The projects of this orientation will be of a relatively long duration (from 3 to 5 years). They will require the prior establishment of one or several detection or intervention programs or tools in various practice settings. This implementation will then be followed by an evaluation.

• Project 1 – Development of a factual quiz on mistreatment of older adults
• Project 2 – Monitoring of implementation of one or several practice tools

TRAINING HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

The work developed in the framework of the Chair will contribute to the training of highly qualified practitioners and researchers likely to better counter mistreatment of older adults and to better understand the issues.

TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE AND DISSEMINATION

The Chair’s results will be transferred to users in practice settings and disseminated to the scientific community.