Provincial and Federal Agencies
Provincial: Ontario
Emergency ServicesEmergency numbers such as ambulance, police, fire, distress centres, victims’ helplines, poison information and others, are listed in your telephone book in the “Emergency Numbers” section.
Emergency Management Ontario has produced a series of factsheets to help seniors prepare for and handle an emergency. These include Seniors and Emergencies.
For copies, contact:
Emergency Management Ontario
77 Wellesley Street West
P.O. Box 222
Toronto ON M7A 1N3
Phone: 416-314-3723
Website: www.emergencymanagementontario.ca
Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is most often defined as any act that harms a senior or jeopardizes his or her health or welfare. Elder abuse can take the form of financial, emotional or physical abuse, or neglect.
If you suspect that a senior is being abused, you can call your local Community Care Access Centre or the Senior’s INFOline at 1-888-910-1999.
If think that you or someone you know has been a victim of a theft, fraud or physical assault, you can contact you local police department.
To learn more about elder abuse,
contact:
Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA)
800 Bay St., 7th Floor
Toronto ON M5S 3A9
Phone: 416-640-7784
Fax: 416-750-3624
Website: www.onpea.org
Ontario’s Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse
The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse has partnered with the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat to implement a $4.33M strategy that will assist victims and enhance community safety. The strategy focuses on three priorities: co-ordination of community services, training for staff in the justice system and other sectors and public education to raise awareness of elder abuse.
For more information, please visit www.ontarioseniors.ca Assaulted Women’s Helpline The Assaulted Women’s Helpline is a province-wide, toll-free crisis line available to help women in need. The line provides assaulted women with immediate information and support, and is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Toll-free: 1-866-863-0511
Phone: 416-863-0511
TTY Toll-free: 1-866-863-7868
TTY: 416-863-7868
Fax: 416-364-0563
Website: www.awhl.org
Sexual Assault / Rape Crisis Centres
Rape crisis centres offer a variety of individual and group counselling options, advocacy and accompaniment services, and a 24-hour crisis support line. Services may vary at different centres. The number for your local centre can be found in the “Emergency Numbers” section in your telephone book.
Women’s Shelters
Shelters across the province provide services for assaulted women and their children. These services include temporary emergency accommodation, and residential supports (childcare, crisis telephone lines, counselling, emergency transportation, and safe-environment programs). Community-based programs include counselling and outreach programs for assaulted women and their families.
For a referral, call:
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
Toll-free: 1-866-863-0511
Phone: 416-863-0511
TTY Toll-free: 1-866-863-7868
TTY: 416-863-7868
Fax: 416-364-0563
Website: www.awhl.org
Victim Support Line
Toll-free: 1-888-579-2888
Phone: 416-314-2447
Or, contact your local police department listed in the “Emergency Numbers” section in your telephone book, and speak to the community relations’ officer.
Addiction Programs
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funds approximately 160 agencies across the province to offer drug and alcohol treatment services for people of all ages. Services provided by these agencies include community treatment, residential treatment, and support and withdrawal management services.
For information about treatment services in your area, please contact the Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment (DART) at 1-800-565-8603 or www.drugandalcoholhelpline.ca
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care also funds 44 problem-gambling treatment agencies across the province. These agencies provide services to people of all ages, offering information about problem gambling and treatment for problem gamblers, their spouses and family members. For information about treatment services in your area, contact the Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline (OPGH) at 1-888-230-3505.
Family Service Agencies
Family service agencies offer specialized counselling services such as individual, couple and family counselling, lifestyle change, stress management, unemployment counselling, and therapy for survivors of sexual abuse and family violence. In addition, many family agencies provide immigrant services, marriage preparation, retirement preparation, family life education, a variety of seniors’ programs, and addiction and credit counselling services.
Family Service Ontario is an association that represents 48 family service agencies in Ontario. To find a family service agency near you, contact Family Service Ontario at 416-231-6003, or consult the Yellow Pages of your telephone book under “Social Services Organizations”.
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is dedicated to protecting the safety of the people of Ontario by providing front-line policing services to over 400 municipal and First Nations communities and ensuring safe travel on our province's highways, waterways and snowmobile trails.
For further information regarding the OPP, including detachment listings and contact numbers, consult the White Pages of your telephone book, or:
Ontario Provincial Police
Toll-free: 1-888-310-1122
Website: www.OPP.ca
Crime Stoppers
Crime Stoppers is a not-for-profit community-based partnership that provides the public with an opportunity to provide tips anonymously and assist the police in solving crimes. Members of the public with information about crimes that have been committed, are being committed or are about to be committed are encouraged to call in to a province-wide Toll-free hotline: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Senior Crime Stoppers encourages seniors to call in tips to assist police in solving crimes and uncovering scams and frauds that target seniors.
Toll-free: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
If you, or someone you care for, have been the innocent victim of a crime of violence, you may be eligible for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB). The CICB may compensate up to a maximum of $25,000 for one-time payments, or up to $1,000 in monthly payments for periodic awards, for injuries or deaths caused by violent crime. Compensation can cover expenses such as medical bills, prescriptions, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Applications for compensation must be made within two years of the crime of violence.
The Criminal Injuries
Compensation Board
439 University Ave., 4th Floor
Toronto ON M5G 1Y8
Toll-free: 1-800-372-7463
Phone: 416-326-2900
Website: www.cicb.gov.on.ca
Fire Safety
According to statistics from the Office of the Fire Marshal, adults age 65 and older are at a higher risk of dying from fire than any other age group.
In 1997, the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and the Office of the Fire Marshal introduced a comprehensive fire safety program for older adults called “Older and Wiser”. The program is intended to be delivered by municipal fire departments, with the involvement and support of seniors’ agencies, community groups, home support workers and the media, as well as the families and friends of older adults.
Older adults, their families and caregivers should take a few minutes to complete a fire safety check of their home, apartment or room. It could be a lifesaver. For a copy or to learn more about fire safety contact your local fire department or visit the Office of the Fire Marshal Website at www.firesafetycouncil.com/english/pubsafet/wiser.htm
Municipal fire departments are always happy to provide advice and assistance to seniors and to deliver presentations to seniors’ groups and community events.
Falls Prevention
Falls are the leading cause of injury among seniors and veterans in Canada. They account for more than half of all injuries among seniors. And while many people aren’t aware of the steps that can be taken to avoid falls, falls can be prevented.
The Health Canada/Veterans Affairs Canada Falls Prevention Initiative has produced You Can Prevent Falls!, a series of fact sheets to inform seniors, veterans, their families and caregivers of the many ways they can prevent falls. These fact sheets are available on the Veterans Affairs Canada Website and can also be made available, upon request, in alternate formats.
For more information, call or write to:
Health Canada/Veteran Affairs
Canada Falls Prevention Initiative
c/o Division of Aging and Seniors
Population and Public Health Branch
Health Canada
Address locator: 1908A1
Ottawa ON K1A 1B4
Phone: 613-952-7606
Fax: 613-957-9938
E-mail: seniors@hc-sc.gc.ca
Website: www.vac-acc.gc.ca/clients/sub.cfm?source=health/fallsp/factsheets/facsh8
- automated notification of the status and scheduled release of provincially sentenced offenders
- registering of concerns about the parole or release of an offender
- referrals to community victim support services, and
- information on how the justice system works.
Information counsellors are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
Toll-free: 1-888-579-2888
Phone: 416-314-2447
Federal
Telecare Distress Centres of Canada
Telecare Distress Centres of Canada Inc. is a national organization of centres whose volunteers are available to listen to people in relationships, jobs or finances, grief and loss, stress or depression, physical and emotional health, alcohol and drugs, or suicidal feelings.
Telecare’s service is accessible by telephone 24 hours, 7 days a week. All calls are anonymous, completely confidential and free.
Telecare has call centres in the several Ontario communities.