Why is World Elder Abuse Day important?

A topic no one wants to think about let alone talk about - Elder Abuse.

Tomorrow is World Elder Abuse Day, it came about due to the prevalence of Elder Abuse and the risk to older people. Elder Abuse takes all types of forms.

Earlier today I was contacted by a friend telling me a horrid story about someone they love. They were seeking advice from me about the next steps they can take to protect the person they love from a person who is trying to take control of decisions both medical and financial. A person unrelated, that came into the older persons life opportunistically and who's behaviour I would refer to as much like a parasite. My friend, a primary carer of an older relative, has over time seen evidence of their loved one being coerced and slowly taken advantage of by someone who has no right to interfere. They have tried to protect their family member however the other party is persistently manipulating an older person with complex health needs for their own personal gain. There is no sugar coating this, people that leach onto a older, possibly vulnerable, person because they think they know better or to create an opportunity for personal gain (regardless of what the gain is) are not good people.

Sound harsh?

Well unfortunately having worked in the Aged Care and Community sector for a loooooooooong time I have seen it frequently. Just when I think I've been privy the worst example of it something else happens that is down right shocking.

Regularly we hear of older people being short changed by their care worker, coercing them into authorising their time sheet when they haven't stayed for the full shift that the older person is paying for. Often when you try and encourage people receiving care to speak up they don't want to rock the boat or get their support worker upset.

We also hear of family members being the perpetrators of Elder Abuse - be it psychological, financial, physical etc. Abuse can be driven by various motivations, none of which are OK.

Even my own grandmother had her home broken into and an attempted robbery occurred a few years back. The person entered with a key that had been available to her care team, when the care agency was contacted they did not want to know about it and that person (or their friend) continued on their payroll with no proper investigation and continued to enter peoples homes in a trusted role, supporting to people to remain independent at home. This stuff happens more than we care to think about it and sadly very little happens to resolve or reduce the frequency of it.

Awareness is required for the community to assist. I know that people don't like thinking about getting old and often, sadly, older people in our community are under valued or invisible. I urge people to try a new lense on this weekend and refresh your knowledge about older abuse. Not only about the indicators of elder abuse but how we can prevent it - by keeping people connected, taking the time to speak with older people in the community so that they know they are valued and empowered. It's important that we all act to reduce social isolation and that we operate as a village, looking out for each other.

Older people need to know that people care for them and that there are people about that they can talk to if somethings not quite right. Generational attitudes may create barriers to older people speaking up sometimes, but if we can help people to have their affairs set up to reduce the opportunity for abuse, have people looking out for them and people confident about speaking up if there are markers that

Which path will you take to assist in reducing Elder Abuse? Will you assist by talking about it so others are aware? Will you take the time to connect with older people around you? Will you offer an older person a chance to tell you that they feel afraid or are suffering abuse? Will you speak up if there is something not quite right?

Time for us to step it up, from our personal actions, professional practices and policy. Everyone deserves to be safe and well.

For more information on Elder Abuse, including how you can raise awareness and start the conversations in your work place or amongst your family visit https://elderabuseawarenessday.org.au/

Like any form of bullying or abuse I always refer to Morrisons words - "the standard that you walk past is the standard you accept".