Elder Abuse — it’s nothing new! Collaborative launching in June

By Sue Field, Adjunct Associate Professor, CSU

Most of us have heard stories that relate to an older person having been “ripped-off”. Whilst we might express disgust that someone has taken advantage of a vulnerable member of society, perhaps we don’t really give it much more thought — after all “it’s not something that happens in my social scene”. Wrong.

Elder abuse is classless, and it doesn’t just affect what is now referred to as “old, old” people in the community. It can occur in the nicest of families, from all walks of life and can be just as common in rural areas as it is in metropolitan communities and it is not confined to any one particular cultural group.

Whilst the most common definition of elder abuse is that of the World Health Organisation, namely:

[it is] 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.

My preferred definition is that of Payne, Berg and Byars, who back in 1998 examined it from a criminological perspective stating that it was:

…any criminal, physical, or emotional harm or unethical taking advantage of that negatively affects the physical, financial, or general well-being of an elderly person.

Surely, by removing the “expectation of trust” we can find that elder abuse includes a much wider range of perpetrators who prey on older people.

We have an ageing population and, combined with an increase in the number of adult children “needing” financial assistance from parents, elder abuse is only going to continue to impact on society — in the most negative way.

Recent articles in both the ABC and the Australian Financial Review estimate that the “Bank of Mum and Dad” is now responsible for assisting 60 per cent of first-home buyers.

Whilst it is great if parents can financially assist their offspring to: “get a foot in the property market” it is only great if the parents can afford it, are fully-informed of the consequences of their actions, and are willing to assist.

And keep in mind, financial abuse is just one form of elder abuse, it can also be psychological, emotional, physical and/or sexual and often the abuse takes more than one form.

But talk is cheap, has anything actually been initiated to address what is a scourge on society? The short answer is “yes”.

The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission was established in July 2019. The role of the Commission is to: “…better protect older people and adults with disability from abuse, neglect and exploitation from someone they know living in their home or community, and to promote their fundamental human rights.”

The first person to be appointed as Commissioner was Robert Fitzgerald (AM). Commissioner Fitzgerald’s role includes:

• investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults with disability and older people in home and community settings;

• providing support to vulnerable adults and their families or carers following an investigation;

• reporting and make recommendations to government on systemic issues related to abuse, neglect and exploitation

• raising community awareness of abuse, neglect and exploitation, including how to prevent, identify and respond to matters; and

• administering the Official Community Visitors program, in relation to disability services and assisted boarding houses.

To enable the Commissioner to fulfil his role; he has been granted wide-ranging powers which include the following:

·         the power to initiate investigations on their own motion, or following a referral or complaint;

·         the power to apply for and execute a search warrant, and seize evidence, as part of an investigation; and

·         information gathering and sharing powers.

In keeping with the Commission’s role of raising community awareness, an Elder Abuse Collaborative has been set-up in Orange and the launch of the Collaborative is to take place on Thursday, June 10, at 10am at the CWA Hall in Robertson Park.

Residents of Orange will hear first-hand what the Commissioner has been doing, and intends to do, to address elder abuse as he will launch the Orange Collaborative.

Members of the community are invited to attend the launch which will also host displays sponsored by relevant organisations in the community.

Bookings are essential and can be made through Rennie at the Community Services Centre, 286 Lords Place, Orange by telephoning (02) 6393 8600.