September 4, 2008, Toronto – The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA) is proud to announce plans to activate a new province-wide hotline to assist at-risk seniors. The hotline will be active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will provide resources and assistance in 154 languages to older adults that are suffering abuse.

“Ontario is proud to support this invaluable resource for seniors in communities across the province which will allow them to access help in the language with which they are most comfortable,” said the Hon. Aileen Carroll, Minister Responsible for Seniors.

The hotline will be operated in association with the Assaulted Women’s Help Line (AWHL), who will provide the infrastructure and technical support needed to make the project possible. Currently in the planning stages, the hotline is scheduled to go live on March 1, 2009.

According to Lori Flynn, Board Chair of ONPEA, “Knowing that there is someone you can talk to, 24/7, in your own language, makes you feel less alone, more connected. Hopefully this will encourage a senior to pick up the phone and get help.”

The hotline is made possible by a $415,700 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For over 25 years, the Foundation has supported the growth and vitality of communities across the province. OTF continues to strengthen the capacity of the volunteer sector through investments in community-based initiatives. For more information, please visit www.trilliumfoundation.org.

ONPEA is a non-profit, charitable organization mandated to raise awareness about the abuse and neglect of older adults, and create an Ontario that is free from abuse for all seniors, through education, training, collaboration, service coordination and advocacy.