10 per cent of older Australians abused
Almost 10 per cent of older Australians were being abused whether it was financial, legal, emotional, physical or plain neglect, according to advocacy bodies, seniors groups and community legal services which include National Seniors Australia, Elder Abuse Action Australia and Older Persons Advocacy Network.
The organisations welcomed a National Plan on Elder Abuse and said the immediate funding was needed in the 2018-19 budgets of all governments across Australia to support efforts to prevent and combat elder abuse.
Of those 10 per cent of older Australians who were being abused, much of the abuse were hidden in families where victims did not know how to stop it.
At the recent National Elder Abuse Conference, spokesperson Lewis Kaplan said that the complex nature of elder abuse required a full Council of Australian Governments’ response.
“Elder abuse requires multi-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional, multi-sectoral responses supported across political party lines, so a united and prompt response in essential,” he said.
“We need resources to educate older Australians, the broader community and service providers about ageism and elder abuse, resources to promote elder abuse helplines more effectively, and resources to employ advocates, lawyers and social workers to engage with victims and their families,” Mr Kaplan said.
“The need for funding to support an effective response to the increasing epidemic of elder abuse is both urgent and important,” Kaplan said.
AUTHOR
Oksana Patron
Recommended for you
The new financial year has got off to a strong start in adviser gains, helped by new entrants, after heavy losses sustained in June.
Michael McCorry, chief investment officer at BlackRock Australia, has detailed how investors are reconsidering their 60/40 portfolios as macro uncertainty highlight the benefits of liquid alternatives.
Having reset its market focus to high-net-worth advisers, Praemium’s administration solution has been selected by Bell Potter in a deal that increases the platform's funds under administration by $6 billion.
High transition rates from financial advisers have helped Netwealth’s funds under administration rise by $3.7 billion in the fourth quarter of FY25.
