What is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse is when people over the age of 60 are victims of social, physical, emotional or financial abuse.
Sadly, elder abuse can often be committed by friends, family and caregivers, not just strangers or scammers.
Elder abuse is more than financial loss and can cause severe anxiety and depression. It can also present itself in the form of the victim not being allowed to have access to their basic needs, such as food, suitable medical care or accommodation. People who live alone or are isolated (such as living on a farm) are at a heightened risk of elder abuse.
What are the signs to look out for?
Elder abuse can present in many different ways. While sometimes it may be obvious, it can often be subtle. The victim may not even realise they are suffering elder abuse.
Some red flags to watch out for can include:
- If there is a family member with a strong sense of entitlement to property or possessions (often referred to as ‘inheritance impatience’)
- If the elderly person has cognitive impairment or reduced capacity
- If the elderly person is completely dependent on another person for care
- If the elderly person has a child or family member with drug, alcohol, gambling or other addictions
- If the elderly person is frightened or intimidated by a certain family member or friend
- If the elderly person is unaware of their rights (especially if they know they are being taken advantage of)
- If the elderly person feels pressured to withdraw money from bank accounts or investments to give to their abuser or appears hesitant to make financial decisions without running it past their carer/family first
- If it appears that a Power of Attorney is abusing or contravening their legal responsibilities for their own benefit and not the person they are attorney for
What to do if you believe you or someone you know is suffering elder abuse
You can contact the following helplines or refer to these online resources if you are worried about yourself or someone you know being a victim of elder abuse:
- Detective Senior Constable Phillip Hogan - Lake Macquarie Police District (02 4922 8758) hoga1phi@police.nsw.gov.au
- Senior Constable Maurice McSpadden - Newcastle City Police District (02 4926 6523) mcsp1mau@police.nsw.gov.au
- Senior Constable Krystle Wilcox - Port Stephens – Hunter Police District (02 4983 7421) Wilc1kry@police.nsw.gov.au
- National Elder Abuse phone line (1800 353 374)
- Older Persons Advocacy Network (1800 700 600)
- Compass: Guiding Action on Elder Abuse website https://compass.info/
Our team of Aged Care specialists are here to help
Navigating Aged Care yourself or assisting a loved one can be an emotionally charged, overwhelming and complex time so it is important to find the right person to guide you through the process.
To ensure you are equipped with an understanding of what to look for, get in touch with the Rethink Aged Care team for our personalised service to assist you in determining your care needs. Contact us on 4962 4440.
Figures are current at the time of writing & are subject to legislative change.