Australian councils are joining in international efforts to raise awareness against elder abuse.
Today is the UN-backed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is held annually on 15 June.
Elder abuse describes any act that causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust, such as a family member or friend.
The issue is widely under-reported, but the World Health Organisation estimates that up to 10 percent of older people worldwide are affected.
Mayor of Knox Council in Victoria, Tony Holland, said his council has been a member of the Eastern Elder Abuse Network (EEAN) for many years, and said it is “intolerable that up to one in 10 older people are subject to some form of abuse.”
“To address this very concerning and growing issue, we aim to empower older people through increased awareness of their legal and financial rights as well as highlighting this, sometimes, hidden issue to the community as a whole.”
Recent figures compiled by the National Ageing Research Institute of Seniors Rights Victoria data show that financial abuse and psychological/emotional abuse together are the most common forms of abuse reported by older Victorians (81.82%).
The data showed victims are most likely to be female (72.5%) and persons related to the older person or in a de facto relationship perpetrate 92.3% of abuse; 66.8% of abuse is perpetrated by a child of the elder person.
“Abuse may be emotional, physical, financial, social or sexual and can include neglect,” said Mayor Holland.
“Many of us have elderly relatives, friends and neighbours and as a community we need to be observant of those who may not be in a position to look out for themselves or be aware of what constitutes abuse.”
If you think that someone you know may be experiencing elder abuse or if you feel you may be a victim, you can call Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) on their free, confidential phone line 1300 368 821 or visit their website www.seniorsrights.org.au
