Blog
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By Heather Campbell Pope
Author’s note: This is an updated version of an article posted on the CNPEA blog in June 2015.
With Canadians heading to the polls on April 28, a common question is whether people with dementia are eligible to vote in the federal election. The answer is yes.
According to the Canada Elections Act, every Canadian citizen who is at least 18 years old on polling day is qualified to vote. The legislation places no restrictions on voting rights for individuals with mental disabilities, including those with neurocognitive disorders like dementia.
While many democracies worldwide deny the right to vote based on cognitive impairment, Canada is among a handful of countries that universally protect this sacred right for all adult citizens, enshrining it in section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and the rule of law and cannot be lightly set aside,” wrote former Supreme Court of Canada chief justice Beverley McLachlin in a 2002 decision on prisoner voting rights.[1]
Yet from time to time, and often influenced by American politics, voting rights for people with dementia are threatened. For example, concern surged after the 2000 U.S. presidential election, when George W. Bush won by just 537 votes in Florida, a state with a large senior population.
“Precisely because Alzheimer’s disease insidiously erodes the ability to make reasoned judgments informed by knowledge of recent and remote events, it is somewhat unnerving to consider that patients with dementia may routinely contribute to selecting the leader of the free world,” wrote two doctors in a medical journal.[2]
Others have expressed similar concerns. In New Zealand, for instance, a nursing home industry executive suggested it could be paradoxical for dementia unit residents to be registered to vote if they have been deemed unfit to make their own decisions: “To be able to determine someone has the will and ability to vote in an aged residential care secure dementia unit, I think, is a very high threshold. And I don’t see how it can be met.”[3]
Concerns about dementia and the capacity to vote are legitimate, but it helps to think about riding a bike. “Capacity to vote is much like the capacity to ride a bicycle, which can be determined accurately only by allowing the individual to mount a bike and start pedaling,” writes the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging and the Penn Memory Center.[4] “If capacity is lacking, the task just won’t be completed.”
To be sure, there are genuine worries that long-term care residents will be exploited for partisan gain. Care homes are often heavily visited by candidates during an election, which is a good thing that facilitates political inclusion, but it can create situations where cognitively frail voters are unduly influenced and pressured into voting a certain way.
Family members and caregivers can also cross the line into undue influence, essentially voting twice and undermining electoral legitimacy.
Among seniors living at home, those who receive care from an adult child are at a heightened risk of being excluded from the democratic process. This population is less likely to vote than seniors who receive care at home from a spouse.[5] Oftentimes an adult child simply does not have the time to take their parent to the polling station, due to work, childcare or other responsibilities during the day, while others purposely prevent their older parent from voting.
What do voting rights have to do with elder abuse? In some cases, preventing a senior from casting a ballot can be about control and isolation, a common tactic of abusers that can include a pattern of deliberate behaviours like withholding medication, intercepting mail, denying visitors and restricting religious practices.
More often care partners are simply mistaken about voting rights, innocently assuming that people with dementia cannot vote. But this still undermines the person’s sense of dignity and self-worth—and violates their civic right and responsibility to cast their ballot.
To enhance political participation among people with dementia, let’s keep raising public awareness that Canadians with dementia have the constitutional right to vote in the federal election.
Heather Campbell Pope is founder of Dementia Justice Canada, a small nonprofit dedicated to safeguarding the rights and dignity of people with dementia.
[1] Sauve v. Canada (Chief Electoral Officer), 2002 SCC 58 at para. 9 [for the majority].
[2] Victor W. Henderson & David A. Drachman, “Dementia, butterfly ballots, and voter competence” (2002) 58:7 Neurology 995.[3] Martin Taylor cited in RNZ, “Dementia patient vote questioned” (8 September 2014).
[4] American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging and the Penn Memory Center, “Assisting Cognitively Impaired Individuals with Voting: A Quick Guide.”
[5] J. H. Karlawish et al., “Do Persons with Dementia Vote?” (2002) 58 Neurology 1100, cited in Michael J. Prince, “Electoral Participation of Electors with Disabilities: Canadian Practices in a Comparative Context” (Prepared for Elections Canada, March 2012) at 19.
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Gender-Based Violence
Among Older Adult Female Caregivers
A team at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health is seeking assistance in identifying potential public participants for a research project.
This project aims to develop an evidence-based needs assessment tool, which will be used to measure and assess the needs and factors that influence gender-based violence reporting and help-seeking among older adult female informal caregivers in Canada.
The final tool will be developed based on existing literature and pilot-testing a preliminary needs assessment survey, incorporating insights from older women with lived experience of informal caregiving. The team has developed the preliminary needs assessment survey and would like your assistance with recruiting participants to complete the short survey. The survey will be self-administered online and following completion of the survey, participants will be offered the option of participating in a follow-up interview over Zoom.
Seeking individuals with any of the lived experiences listed below:
- women aged 55 years or older currently providing informal care to someone or individuals who have observed an older woman doing so
- women aged 55 years or older with a previous experience of providing informal care to someone or individuals who have observed older women doing so
The team hopes to include a range of diverse voices representing various cultures as well as different geographic locations including urban, rural and remote.
Please share the attached flyer with any clients or contacts whom you believe may be interested in participating in this project. Download the flyer in PDF format here
Why participate?
Your input will be used to help improve care andsupport services for caregivers across Canada.
Contact:
If you would like more information about this project or have any questions, please reach out to:
Grace Hu at
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March 18, 2025
Today CNPEA delivered a written submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs to help inform its study of Bill C-332, which proposes to make coercive control by intimate partners a standalone offence. While Bill C-332 is a positive step in the right direction, it must be noted that coercive control is not only perpetrated by intimate partners. Coercive control is also a common tactic of adult children and others in relationships of trust and dependency with an older person.
Bill C-332's limitation to intimate partner relationships neglects the complex and pervasive nature of such abuse among older adults. Recognizing that coercive control extends beyond intimate partner violence to include family, caregivers and others in positions of trust is critical to adequately protect older people, particularly those with added vulnerabilities, under the law.
CNPEA is urging senators to amend Bill C-332 so the proposed coercive control offence extends beyond intimate partners and protects elder abuse victims.
READ OUR FULL SUBMISSION HERE
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Fund Development Manager
Full time, One-Year Contract
Remote/Virtual (Must reside in Canada and be eligible to work in Canada)
Pay range: $36.50-39.80 per hour, commensurate with experience (no benefits)
Annual Salary: $71,204 to $77,612
ABOUT CNPEA
The Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) builds awareness, support, and capacity for a coordinated pan-Canadian approach to preventing elder abuse and neglect. We promote the rights of older adults through knowledge mobilization, collaboration, policy reform, and public education.
Our Vision: All older adults in Canada have the support they need to thrive within their communities and live free from violence and neglect.
Job Purpose
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Fund Development Manager will create and implement fund development strategies to help CNPEA achieve revenue objectives. The focus will be on securing sustainable funding, developing grant proposals, cultivating sponsorships, and stewarding donor relationships. The role also involves maintaining existing partnerships while fostering new ones.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Fund Development & Revenue Generation
- Develop and implement strategic fund development and communications plans to meet annual fundraising targets.
- Identify, cultivate, and secure funding from diverse sources, including individuals, foundations, corporate sponsors, and government grants.
- Research and submit compelling grant proposals and funding applications.
- Develop sponsorship packages, identify and secure sponsorship opportunities, and ensure fulfillment of sponsorship agreements.
- Monitor industry trends to inform fundraising strategies and initiatives.
- Maintain an awareness of societal issues and trends that relate to or affect CNPEA’s mission. Ensure this knowledge is embedded in fundraising materials.
Donor & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, funders, and corporate sponsors.
- Develop and support donor stewardship and appreciation efforts.
- Draft case statements, presentations, briefing notes, and marketing materials to support fundraising activities.
- Maintain donor and partner records, ensuring accurate tracking of interactions and contributions.
Strategic Planning & Organizational Culture
- Participate in strategic planning and budget development to align fund development activities with organizational priorities.
- Champion fundraising and foster a culture of philanthropy within CNPEA.
- Ensure fundraising initiatives reflect CNPEA’s values, promoting ethical practices and social responsibility.
- Maintain and update a fundraising procedures manual.
Operational & Financial Management
- Implement tracking mechanisms for fund development activities and prepare reports for the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
- Work closely with the Executive Director and bookkeeper to reconcile gifts, accounts, fund allocations, and restricted funds.
- Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations and best practices, including Canada Revenue Agency and Imagine Canada standards.
Additional Responsibilities
- Perform other duties as required to support CNPEA’s mission and fundraising efforts.
Skills and Abilities
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling fundraising proposals.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills to coordinate multiple deliverables.
- Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities with demonstrated initiative and accountability.
- Strong interpersonal skills to engage stakeholders and build productive relationships.
- Ability to work independently in a remote work environment.
- Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA).
- French language skills are an asset.
Qualifications
Education & Knowledge
- University degree or college diploma in a relevant discipline (or equivalent experience).
- Knowledge of CRA regulations, Imagine Canada standards, and applicable privacy laws.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, donor databases (e.g., DonorPerfect), fundraising platforms (e.g., CanadaHelps), content management systems,web conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Teams) and social media.
- CFRE designation is an asset but not required.
Experience
- 3-5 years of experience in professional fundraising, including:
- Identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts.
- Developing and executing fund development strategies.
- Preparing fundraising proposals, grants, letters, and donor communications.
- Managing donor databases and tracking fundraising data.
- Building and maintaining strategic partnerships with stakeholders.
- Meeting revenue development goals consistently.
- Experience in a non-profit organization; experience in a national organization is an asset.
Other Information
This position involves handling confidential information and requires a high degree of trustworthiness.
CNPEA values diversity and encourages applicants from all backgrounds. If comfortable, applicants may self-identify personal characteristics or experiences that align with our commitment to inclusion and equity.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
- Application Deadline: April 25, 2025
- Only applications submitted through Charity Village will be considered.
- Applications will be considered, and applicants contacted, on a rolling basis.
- We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Click here to apply via Charity Village
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A new study commissioned by the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA) exposes a critical need to combat ageism in Canada and improve understanding among Canadians about the threat it poses to our health, economy, and social fabric.
The survey of 1000 Canadian adults over 25, conducted by Ipsos, reveals that:
- While 54% of Canadians are familiar with the concept of ageism, 87% fail to grasp its widespread prevalence. With nearly half of the global population harbouring ageist attitudes, this lack of awareness of the issue is deeply alarming.
- 64% of Canadians acknowledge that feelings of age discrimination harm mental and physical health.
- Meanwhile, 42% express anxiety about aging themselves, and 31% report experiencing self-ageism, such as negative feelings about their own aging.
- Just 44% of Canadians agree that ageism has a negative economic toll, underscoring the need to raise awareness about its far-reaching societal and financial impacts.
The World Health Organization defines ageism as stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination based on age – manifesting itself in everyday interactions, biased policies and systems, and ‘self-ageism’ (internalized negativity about one’s own aging). Widespread ageist attitudes harm health, stifle potential, and erode the dignity of seniors in our communities.
The CCAA, with the International Longevity Centre-Canada and other partners, hosted a Canadian Institutes of Health Research-sponsored Ageism Forum in June 2024 in Ottawa, presenting actionable solutions to this pervasive issue.
- Health Care Must Change: Ageism leads to older persons being dismissed, ignored, or receiving substandard care. Addressing these biases ensures that age does not determine the quality of care received.
- Education is Critical: Teaching about ageism in schools, workplaces, and health care is one of the most effective strategies for change.
- Intergenerational Connection: Programs fostering relationships between younger and older persons reduce stereotypes and promote understanding.
- Nothing About Us Without Us: Older persons must be central to decision-making and research. Their lived experiences provide invaluable insights that drive meaningful change.
Together, we can create a Canada where everyone lives with dignity, respect, and opportunity. Visit the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism website to learn more.
To access the Ipsos poll results please visit: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/public-opinion-on-awareness-of-ageism-in-Canada-2024
To access the full Ageism Report in English or French please visit:
- English: https://ccaageism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ageism-forum-report-en-screen.pdf
- French: https://ccaageism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ageism-forum-report-fr-screen.pdf
About International Longevity Centre Canada
International Longevity Centre Canada (ILC-C) is a registered, independent, nonprofit non-governmental organization, which uses a human rights lens to approach all its work, including knowledge development and exchange, recommending evidence-based policies, social mobilization, and networking. ILC-C’s mission is to propose ideas and guidance for policies addressing population aging based on international and domestic research and practice with a view to bettering the lives of Canadians.
About the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism
The Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA) is a nation-wide social change movementto eliminate ageism against older persons while protecting and strengthening their human rights. CCAA’s vision is a Canada free of ageism. Guided by the leadership of ILC-C, the Coalition has forged partnerships with 14 prominent Canadian non-governmental organizations. The CCAA advocates for laws, policies and practices that support the human rights of older adults, including a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is the world’s third-largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.Their passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Ipsos serves more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.
About the Study
This Ipsos poll was conducted from September 25th to 30th, 2024, with a sample of 1,000 Canadians aged 25+. Results are accurate to within ±3.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadians been polled. The credibility will be wider among subsets of the population.
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