Abuse of our elderly must end now
Elder abuse is happening at far higher rates than people realise and should be addressed in the same way as child abuse.
There needs to be more awareness across the community to prevent abuse of the elderly.
A panel of experts discussed elder abuse at the Leading Age Service Australia’s (LASA) National Congress this week. They say there needs to be more awareness across the community to prevent abuse of the elderly.
“If we really value older people we need to do something,” Professor S. Caroline Taylor AM says.
Elder abuse can involve physical, psychological/emotional, social, sexual or financial abuse. It can also be the result of intentional or unintentional neglect.
Perpetrators of elderly abuse can appear from anywhere but most often they are family members. In cases of financial abuse, the abuser has often been assigned power of attorney.
Panellist, Hetty Johnston AM, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Bravehearts says the same approach to child protection must be applied to ending elder abuse, as it is about protecting people who cannot protect themselves.
The audience heard that older people who are being financially abused, or effectively being stolen from, may not realise it if they do not have control over their bank accounts or assets.
Panellists told stories about elderly people forced to live in the garage of their home by their adult children, and then had their home sold from underneath them.
Sexual violence, especially of women, is under-reported because it remains a taboo topic of discussion, according to panellist Dr Catherine Barrett.
“Older people will report financial abuse or physical abuse but not sexual abuse. There is a lot of shame attached to that,” she says.
Policy advisor Danny Blay says people often take the path of least resistance. “They worry about not being believed, not being heard. Sometimes carers belittle the experience of the elder in saying that’s not really what’s happened.”
He says elder abuse needs skilled interventions to get to the bottom of what is actually happening.
Front line staff should receive training to become aware of the signs of abuse, observe change in the people they care for and know where older people can go to get help.
Gerard Mansour, the Commissioner for Senior Victorians, says the community doesn’t have an understanding that elder abuse is an issue that needs to be addressed.
“Elder abuse is an issue that older people do face, as they rely on family and friends for support as they become frail.
“It’s an issue that needs to be put on the agenda, we need to talk openly about it,” Mr Mansour says.
“Our community must have a zero tolerance approach to elder abuse, just as we have zero tolerance to child abuse.”
LASA CEO, Patrick Reid, says the whole community has a role to play in identifying, empowering people and ending elder abuse.
“The same systems that have failed those being abused, continue to fail our elderly people. A lack of visibility of the problem and ineffective reporting policies and fear of repercussion enable abuse to continue,” he says.
“Awareness, intervention and protection starts with our extended families and the broader community,” according to Mr Reid.
“Aged care providers, home care staff, GPs, hairdressers, retail staff – anyone who has contact with someone who may be being abused behind closed doors, has a duty of care, a responsibility to reach out to help that person.”
