Welcome and Introduction - 22nd Annual John K. Friesen Conference - Taboo Topics in Residential Care (2013)

This video comprises the welcoming address by Dr. Andrew Sixsmith to the attendees of the 22nd Annual John K. Friesen Conference, "Taboo Topics in Residential Care," held MAY 27-28, 2013, Vancouver, BC. The Simon Fraser University Gerontology Research Centre (GRC) and the associated Gerontology Department in cooperation with Fraser Health, the Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia, the Seniors’ Directorate, Ministry of Health, Province of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health have brought together a group of Canadian experts in residential care policy, practice and research to address such difficult-to-deal-with issues as resident-resident aggression; theft and financial exploitation in institutional settings; alcohol, drug and tobacco use and abuse; sexuality; and dying and death. The conference will also discuss when it is and is not appropriate to use physical and/or chemical restraints and anti-psychotic medications. The conference also features a public lecture that will present a national perspective on elder abuse in Canada.The objective of the conference is not just to raise awareness of these issues but also to identify steps that are or should be taken to safeguard the health, safety and well-being of residents of long term care facilities and those who care for them – both today and for the future. We also gratefully acknowledge a grant from the SFU Library's Scholarly Digitization Fund for videography and post-production editing.