Elder abuse is a multifaceted and often hidden form of abuse. There is currently no national data on the prevalence of elder abuse in Australia. Based on international studies, it is estimated that between 2% and 14% of older people in high- or middle-income countries experience elder abuse every year. The term 'elder abuse' covers a range of harmful behaviours, including physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse and neglect.
Prevalence rates are likely to be much higher in institutional care settings than in community settings.
A range of factors associated with older people, perpetrators, relationships and broader contextual factors contribute to older people's risk of abuse and neglect.
Emerging evidence suggests that social isolation and poor quality relationships are among the main risk factors associated with elder abuse in community settings. Social support and healthy relationships with family members are key protective factors for older people at risk of abuse or neglect.
Source: Elder abuse: key issues and emerging evidence (2019) https://apo.org.au/node/240891
WHO definition of elder abuse “…a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person.”
The
NSW Elder Abuse Toolkit is a 5 step approach for identifying and responding to the abuse of older people and the Helpline is available to provide information, support and referrals to any caller who has experienced, witnessed, or suspects abuse of older people living in the community.
The Helpline provide a
Model Policy for preventing and responding to the abuse of older people that libraries could use as a template to develop their own.
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