You were invited because of your expertise, because of your knowledge of the issues related to vulnerable adults, and because of your willingness to help us meet our identified mandate and goals. An overview of the workshop is shown on the Schematic Model in your conference kit. The relationships of the determinants of health to the mistreatment of vulnerable adults provides a conceptual framework for the workshop. From these, a protocol will emerge for prevention, early detection, and effective intervention. Protocol development is not an end in itself, but it is an important component of any strategy which tries to minimize the instances of abuse and neglect and to deal with its effect.
Protocols can be safety nets that protect vulnerable adults from such treatment.
We must look at ethical practice to implement policies prescribed in protocols. For this reason a workshop session on Tuesday will focus on how we can maintain the ideals of autonomy and justice and uphold the basic right to respect and self-determination for vulnerable adults. The workshop will also look at risk factors, protocol development, the grieving process and some legal issues relating to vulnerable adults. There will be interactive activities, small group discussions and lots of time for networking, so let's get started. Thank you again for coming and making this workshop the success we hope it will be.