June 2024 is always a big month for those of us here at Seniors Rights Victoria and COTA Victoria, and for good reason: 15 June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, or WEAAD.
We come together on WEAAD — and this year, in the time surrounding it — to promote widespread understanding and acknowledgement of elder abuse as a growing threat to the health and wellbeing of older Victorians.
In 2024, we’ve focused our efforts through the Warm Safe Home Project, which highlights the right of older people to live safely and free from violence and abuse.
The National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study, published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies in 2021, found that almost 15% of people over the age of 60 living in Australia had experienced elder abuse in one or multiple forms. Psychological abuse, neglect, and financial abuse were reported as the most prevalent forms experienced.
The number of older people in Victoria is constantly growing; the number of Victorians aged over 65 is expected to triple by 2058. With that increase, we’re sure to see a rise in elder abuse cases impacting our communities.
Elder abuse challenges our understanding of family violence. It is overwhelmingly driven by ageism as well as gender inequality, and research shows that it is most often carried out by adult children of the older person.
Complex family dynamics, cultural expectations, and feelings of guilt and shame play a big part in whether the abuse gets reported. Societal attitudes towards older people also impact the way disclosures of abuse are responded to and the avenues available for recourse.
While we’re proud to say that our work is important and impactful, we still have a long way to go to combat the growing risk of elder abuse. It is important that we work together to raise the profile of elder abuse as a growing health concern, and to challenge ageist attitudes.
We need greater efforts at education and training for professionals and community groups working with older people to promote early intervention. Elder abuse must be comprehensively addressed in targeted ways across culturally and linguistically diverse communities and Indigenous communities.
To that end, we also need to champion the increased funding of long-term prevention and early intervention strategies to encourage future planning, and greater oversight of appointed attorneys.
Similarly, addressing the affordable housing shortage will reduce the pressure on families to share living arrangements in circumstances that can impact the right of older people to live safely and independently free from abuse.
This year, Seniors Rights Victoria is proud to partner with the Housing for the Aged Action Group and the City of Melbourne to promote the right of older people to feel safe at home. We invite you to attend our flagship event, which takes place at the Melbourne Town Hall on 13 June.
Best wishes,
Ben Rogers
Acting CEO, Seniors Rights Victoria & COTA Victoria
What to do when facing elder abuse
If you are in Victoria and are experiencing or at risk of elder abuse, we invite you to call the Seniors Rights Victoria helpline on 1300 368 821.
If you’re a concerned friend or family member of someone experiencing abuse, a host of resources are available at seniorsrights.org.au.
For nationwide assistance and to access additional resources in 20 different languages, call the Australian Human Rights Commission on 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374) or visit this website.
If it is an emergency, call 000.