Merit for raising elder abuse awareness

South Australia’s Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS) is one of many organisations taking action against elder abuse.

ARAS was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the 2011 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards for its achievement with the ‘Our Actions’ project in raising awareness on safe-guarding the rights of older people.

Chosen to implement the Department of Families and Communities initiative, titled ‘Our Actions to prevent the abuse of older South Australians’, the project outlines the SA government’s commitment to improving the safety and wellbeing of older South Australians.

Some of the ‘elder abuse awareness activities’ included in the ‘Our Actions’ project included:

• ‘There’s no excuse for abuse’ slogan which was tested on various audiences of older people and used throughout the campaign. The slogan was also used on the radio and throughout written materials.
• Brochures were developed which included up-to-date information about legal safeguards for safe directives and the Pocket Guide, handed out  by aged care providers to consumers, was a small, discreet brochure to raise awareness of what abuse is and what could be done to prevent it.
• Education for aged care staff was another initiative which brought about the publication of the Abuse Prevention Train the Trainer Kit. With 22 training sessions held, the Kit was aimed at Home and Community Care (HACC) service providers to educate their staff about how to identify abuse. More sessions will be held next year.
• The Council of Aboriginal Elders of SA also collaborated with ARAS on a poster, brochure and radio advertisement for the prevention of abuse on Elders.

What strategies would you put in place to raise awareness and prevent elder abuse? Share your opinions and suggestions in the comment box below.