RFP Section 2.1.b. Project Objectives
The Department is seeking a contractor to undertake a repeat Alberta Elder Abuse Prevalence Study among Alberta seniors residing in community dwellings. The contractor will be responsible for the full implementation of the study, including survey administration, data collection, data processing, statistical analysis, interpretation of findings and preparation of technical and public-facing reporting products.
The project objective is to assess changes in the prevalence and characteristics of elder abuse since the 2023-24 study and generate evidence that will inform the review of Alberta’s Elder Abuse Prevention Strategy, future policy development, program planning and service delivery.
The Department expects the study to result in a weighted analytical dataset, a technical report documenting methodology and findings, a final report summarizing key findings and implications, an executive summary and presentation of findings to Department staff.
As this study deals with a sensitive topic and may lead to disclosures of elder abuse, using a trauma informed approach and connecting participants who disclose incidents of abuse to community-based supports will be critical to ensuring the success of the study.
RFP Section 2.1.a Project Background
On July 19, 2022, the Seniors Strategic Planning Branch of the Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services (referred to throughout this document as the “Department”) released A collective approach: Alberta’s strategy for preventing and addressing elder abuse 2022-27, a five-year strategy that guides how Albertans, non-profit organizations, frontline workers, businesses and governments can work together to prevent and reduce elder abuse.
The strategy updates Alberta's definition of elder abuse and outlines goals and actions to make the province safer for seniors. It includes approaches to recognizing and responding to financial abuse, increasing awareness, improving service provider training, enhancing data collection and program development, supporting community responses and strengthening protective laws and policies.
To address inconsistencies in the definition of elder abuse among stakeholders and ministry partners, the Department engaged key stakeholders and the public between June and October 2021 to gather input on a revised definition to be adopted across government. Alberta’s updated definition of elder abuse, included in the strategy, is:
Any intentional or reckless act or willful and negligent disregard, occurring within a relationship of family, trust, or dependency, directed at someone 65 years of age or older, that:
• Causes physical harm;
• Causes emotional or psychological harm;
• Involves the misappropriation or misuse of money or other personal possessions or personal or real property;
• Subjects an individual to non-consensual sexual contact, activity or behaviour; or
• Fails to provide the necessities of life.
Goal five of the strategy focuses on data, information sharing, research and evaluation. Effective data collection and analysis support policy and program responses, including awareness, prevention, early intervention and monitoring. A key short-term action identified under this goal is to support studies focused on personal safety, including those that enhance knowledge and understanding of elder abuse prevalence in the province.
Currently, limited data exists on the prevalence of elder abuse in Alberta, Canada and globally. A prior study was completed in 2015, using 2014-15 data, which oversampled Alberta respondents as part of a national study funded by Employment and Social Development Canada. In 2022, additional research on elder abuse prevalence and risk factors was released using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.
In 2024, the Government of Alberta completed its first provincial elder abuse prevalence study using 2023–24 data. The study established a baseline measure of elder abuse prevalence in Alberta and provides the benchmark for future analysis and comparison. The study found an elder abuse prevalence rate of 11.4% across the province.
The 2023–24 survey was conducted with a representative sample of 1,511 seniors across Alberta, stratified by age, gender and geographic region (urban, mid-size, small centres, and rural areas). All interviews were conducted by telephone between December 2023 and February 2024.
Methodology
The survey measured five subtypes of abuse, which are used to calculate the overall prevalence of elder abuse in the province:
1. Neglect / necessities of life
2. Psychological / emotional abuse
3. Physical abuse
4. Sexual abuse
5. Financial abuse
For each subtype, questions were used to estimate:
• Prevalence of abuse;
• The profile of perpetrators;
• Individuals who sought help or advice and sources of support;
• Occurrence of abuse at earlier life stages.
The primary purpose of this project is to conduct a repeat prevalence study that maintains methodological comparability with 2023–24 Elder Abuse Prevalence Study, allowing for meaningful comparison of findings over time.
Methodological continuity with the 2023-24 Alberta Elder Abuse Prevalence Study is a central requirement of this project. The successful contractor will be expected to replicate the survey design, questionnaire, sampling approach and analytical framework as closely as possible to support valid comparisons over time. Any proposed modifications should be clearly justified and demonstrate that comparability of results will not be compromised.
Sampling Plan
The 2023 study used a sample size of approximately 1,500, based on 629,225 seniors recorded in the 2021 Census. The 2023-24 study used a representative sample of approximately 1,500 Alberta seniors. Proponents are expected to recommend an appropriate sample size and sampling approach that support methodological comparability with the 2023-24 study while providing sufficient statistical precision to meet the study objectives.
If proponents recommend a larger sample size than the previous study, they should provide a clear rationale, including anticipated improvements in statistical reliability, subgroup analysis and precision of estimates. This increase also accounts for age categories and the need to produce results across regions, health corridors, gender, and age groups.
Length of Survey
Data collection for the 2023-24 study was conducted from December 29, 2023, to February 26, 2024. The survey averaged 27 minutes in length, with a completion time ranging from 16 to 72 minutes. Interview length varied based on respondent experience. For respondents who did not report any form of abuse, the survey averaged just over 24 minutes. For those who reported abuse, the interview length ranged from 31 to 41 minutes, depending on the type of abuse disclosed. Where multiple forms of abuse were reported, the survey averaged approximately 41 minutes. The response rate for the survey was 3.65%. A total of 74,937 calls were made for the initial elder abuse prevalence study.
Cognitive Screening
The study includes a cognitive screening component to ensure respondents can provide informed and reliable responses. In the 2023 study, respondents who were unable to demonstrate understanding of voluntary participation and confidentiality were screened out. A total of 134 respondents were excluded through this process.
Trauma Informed Approach
A trauma-informed approach was also applied during data collection to support respondent safety. This included the use of experienced interviewers, established protocols to identify and respond to risk and multiple checkpoints throughout the survey to ensure respondents could safely continue participation.
For further information, reference RFP Section 2 Project Information
Commodity Categories: Statistics, Methodology and analysis, Sampling surveys
Delivery Region: Alberta
