3. Methodology

This case study used a mixed-methods approach. First, the EPS’ Senior Protection Unit created a custom database of all incidents or suspicions (hereafter referred to as “reports”; N = 691) of senior abuse coming to their attention from 2015 to 2021. This was done by gathering information from two sources:

In addition, two semi-structured group interviews were conducted by Justice Canada to complement the report-based data and to contextualize the role of police in responding to senior abuse. The first interview was with the EPS’s Senior Protection Unit, which included two participants. The second interview with the EACT involved eight participants, including representatives from the City of Edmonton, Covenant Health, Catholic Social Services, Seniors’ Association for Greater Edmonton, Seniors Safe House, the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, the Edmonton Police Service and Operation Friendship Seniors Society. A total of 10 key informants participated in this study.

No ethical concerns were identified with the study. To protect the confidentiality of persons involved, personal identifiers were removed from the research database. All focus group participants were provided with letters of information about the study and consented to participation. None of the participants are directly identified in the report.