National approach to elder abuse prevention

The National Elder Abuse Prevention HUB (NEAPHUB) aims to contribute to the development of a national approach to elder abuse prevention.

According to Marilyn Crabtree, South Australia’s Aged Rights Advocacy Service chief executive, elder abuse has attracted attention in some states and territories with various programs and projects developed across Australia.

“However, they evolve and exist in isolation from each other, more or less, without many common elements and, although many of the practitioners are networking on occasions, it could be significantly improved,” Ms Crabtree says.

As a result, widespread support for a national strategic approach is needed, including the development of the NEAPHUB.

Ms Crabtree, who will speak about the NEAPHUB at the 2014 National Elder Abuse Conference, held in Perth from 3 to 4 September, has investigated the possibility of this website portal, where issues happening in different states or on a national front could be featured and shared in an easily accessible format.

“When someone seeks elder abuse information, it is scattered around the internet. This site would provide a focus for and bring together aspects of elder abuse happening in Australia so information about what is happening in each state and territory would be available, and there would be somewhere to showcase the numerous elder abuse prevention services,” she says.

One potential for the NEAPHUB sections would be to feature all of the response agencies and other agencies charged with responding to elder abuse so when people are seeking elder abuse information there would be a list of what is available in each state.

“It does not need to remain a static website but a HUB that people will turn to as the first port of call when seeking information related to elder abuse,” she says.

The fundamental objectives of the NEAPHUB include:

• building the profile of elder abuse as a national issue;
• creating an easily accessible window into the specialist programs and initiatives that are working to prevent and respond to elder abuse;
• developing a ‘one stop shop’ for consumers and service providers seeking information;
• building a directory of elder abuse related information; and
• leading the way to key information and resource referral points for stakeholders.

An advisory group has now been established comprising senior representation from key elder abuse prevention response stakeholders to participate in the development of the National Elder Abuse Prevention HUB.