An Interview with Prevent Elder Abuse Manitoba (PEAM) Coordinator, Lisa Tinley

Prevent Elder Abuse in Manitoba (PEAM) is a Manitoba-based organization providing information and resources on elder abuse. PEAM networks with many different community organizations to help prevent elder abuse. PEAM provides education on elder abuse and facilitates conversations on the topic to reduce the stigma that people can feel if they are victims of abuse. Visit PEAM website here to learn more or request a presentation.

Targeting Isolation in Manitoba (TIMA) spoke with PEAM coordinator, Lisa Tinley, about the organization, elder abuse, and what people can do to help prevent elder abuse in their communities.

 [This interview has been edited for length and clarity.]

"It’s all about people working together to solve this problem."

"It is only through people becoming more aware that we can prevent and reduce elder abuse in our communities."

Targeting Isolation in Manitoba (TIMA): How did PEAM come about?

Lisa, PEAM: We initially received funding from the Government of Manitoba, specifically the Manitoba Heath, Seniors, and Long-Term Care Department, and through the Good Neighbours Active Living Centre. There was a recognition that we needed an organization that could share resources about the prevention of elder abuse and that could also act as a hub to connect other organizations working in this area.

PEAM does not provide services – in other words, we are not the organization that can intervene when older adults are in situations of abuse, but we can educate and connect people with the organization that can help.

"An important thing to note is that [actions] can be considered physical abuse even if there is no [long-lasting] injury...."

Homecare Manitoba or Senior Resource Coordinators can connect people with the proper services to provide care for older adults.

TIMA: What is elder abuse, and what are the areas or situations where you see abuse happening?

Lisa, PEAM: The definition of elder abuse is when someone takes away an older adult's right for freedom. Elder abuse typically happens when someone is in a position of either power or trust to an older adult. It can occur when an older adult is in a situation where they are relying on someone else for assistance—and someone takes advantage of that position. This is a topic where people get very emotional – either they get angry, because someone they know has been mistreated, or they feel sad, even hopeless. The thing to remember is that there are many organizations working to protect and provide support to older adults. With every presentation that I do, someone tells me that they did not know [there were services to provide] support. As long as we keep talking about elder abuse prevention, we will continue making great in-roads to protecting older adults living in our community.

There are 6 main kinds of elder abuse:

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is the most prevalent in Manitoba. This is when someone handles the older adult roughly. An important thing to note is that [actions] can be considered physical abuse even if there is no [long-lasting] injury.

Financial Abuse

The one that typically receives the most media attention is financial abuse which is when someone is trying to gain financially from an older adult. Someone may be trying to get money, or property, or a possession (such as jewelry), or may be trying to get an older adult to change their will or power of attorney without their consent. You hear a lot about scams and frauds that target older adults specifically, and these would also fall into the realm of financial abuse.

Emotional abuse

Psychological or emotional abuse which is when someone threatens, insults, scares, or embarrasses an older adult, and treats an older adult like a child when they can do things for themselves.

Spiritual abuse

Spiritual or religious abuse is when someone limits an older adult from practicing their religious beliefs, traditions, or customs.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is unwanted contact, or, when someone touches an older adult in a sexual way without their consent.

Neglect

Neglect happens when someone does not give an older adult the care, food, or emotional support they need and cannot provide for themselves. What makes this situation really challenging is that we are living in a time when family members are being thrust into the role of a caregiver and they do not necessarily have the skills to provide [medical care or significant attention]. So what may start from a good place of wanting to care for someone can evolve into neglect when [the caregiver] does not have the necessary skills.

Homecare Manitoba or Senior Resource Coordinators can connect people with the proper services to provide care for older adults.

TIMA: Your organization partners with many other organizations throughout Manitoba to build a network of resources. For someone experiencing elder abuse, what is the process to reach out to you and access help?

Lisa, PEAM: There are a number of different organizations that all work together in the prevention of elder abuse. The first step in seeking help, I would say, is to determine if it is an emergency situation or not. If it is an emergency, you need to call the police. You can also call the Vulnerable Persons Unit in Winnipeg, or, if you are outside the city of Winnipeg, the RCMP. All of these numbers are listed right at the top of our PEAM website and we have a section called “Get Help.”

In Manitoba we have the Senior’s Abuse Support line [toll free 1-888-896-7183] which is managed by Klinic. This is a telephone line where older adults can speak to a trained and caring counsellor about what they are going through. Even if you are unsure about whether it is abuse, you can call this number. All calls are free and are confidential. Hours for this service are business hours, but you can leave a message and someone will get back to you.

A & O Support Services for Older Adults is probably the number one resource to provide services and intervention for someone who is living in a community in Manitoba. A & O has a confidential intake line [toll free 1-888-333-3121], or you can call on behalf of an older adult.

For someone who is living in long-term care or a hospital setting, the Protection for Persons in Care Office (or PPCO) is the organization that leads investigations. They do not provide service delivery, but they investigate situations of abuse. PPCO has a website where you can do an open and online investigation, and a number you can call [1-866-440-6366 ].

If people are ever looking for any type of help, they can also call 211 or visit the Manitoba 211 website run through the United Way. It is a provincial resource that allows you to access local services in your area. If you are looking for transportation, a health clinic, a meal service, or are looking to be connected to social programs, then calling 211 will help you.  

In addition, across Manitoba, we have a network of Senior Resource Coordinators that are the links to community resources and programs.

"It's not an older adult's fault, they're not alone in what they're going through, and help is available."

TIMA: What can others do to help prevent the abuse of older adults?

Lisa, PEAM: It starts with awareness. In many instances, older adults are very reluctant to talk about abuse. The number one reason is because there is some shame and stigma attached to being in an abusive situation. They’re afraid that the police, or community organizations won’t be able to help if the abuse is happening from a friend or a family member, and they don’t want to see that person get in trouble, and they’re afraid of getting hurt. There is a lot of reasons that people don’t talk about it, but people need to know that help is available.

I get a lot of people calling to say “How do I know if it’s abuse?” or “Something seems to be going on…” This is important that people are asking questions because that allows people to help. There is an amazing network in Manitoba. For PEAM, I would say we are connected to over 50 different community organizations where I can reach out and say: “This is the situation, what do you suggest?”. It’s all about people working together to solve this problem.

We need to emphasize that it's not an older adult's fault, they’re not alone in what they’re going through, and help is available. If the first person they talk to isn’t able to help, don’t stop – they need to keep reaching out. When we reach out and that first person isn’t able to solve the problem, we tend to stop, but in this situation they need to advocate for themselves and keep talking to people. There’s many, many, people who can help.

TIMA: What would you like older adults in Manitoba to know about your organization?

Lisa, PEAM: PEAM is really a network. We connect resources, other organizations, and we have a fabulous website full of information that can help. Our website has the definitions of elder abuse and lots of videos and recorded presentations. Importantly, our website also provides information on where people can seek help. If people have witnessed something and they are not sure if it’s abuse, there are a lot of different resources on our website to help.

We celebrate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), which happens on June 15^th every year. We encourage people to host events, talk about elder abuse, talk about what you can do, what it is, and keep the conversation going. It is only through people becoming more aware that we can prevent and reduce elder abuse in our communities.

TIMA: What are the goals of the organization moving forward?

Lisa, PEAM: Our goals are to strengthen the network, both nationally and provincially. To promote organizations who are there to help and support, and to get out there and do more presentations. We love going to different community groups and talking about elder abuse prevention. This is a free service we offer – we can deliver presentations and have a team of presenters in all areas of the province. If people would like to request a presentation, they can email PEAM.

To learn more about PEAM and access their resources, visit: https://peam.ca/ 

If you have a question about elder abuse or would like to request a presentation, contact: coordinator@peam.ca

Interview by: Molly MacPherson-Blair, posted November 2025.