Respect and safety for older people

Older people of any background can be affected by elder abuse, defined as being any act that harms an older person.

Elder abuse is often carried out by someone the person knows and trusts, such as an adult child, family member, partner, carer or friend. The abuse may be verbal, physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect.

All older people deserve respect and live safely in their homes and in our community.  

Ageism refers to stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination directed at people on the basis of their age. It includes the ways we think (age-based stereotypes), feel (prejudice) and act (discriminatory behaviour) towards individuals and groups simply because of how old they are. Ageism can affect people at any stage of life — not only older adults but also younger people — though it most commonly impacts older Australians through assumptions that they are frail, less capable or less valuable than others. 

Prevalence – 15 per cent of Australians aged 65 years plus reported experiencing elder abuse in the past year 

Psychological abuse (such as intimidation, threats, verbal abuse) was most reported followed by financial abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse, neglect and seual abuse.  

Family members, particularly adult children are the most common perpertrators of elder abuse.  

Abuse is usually intentional. The harm caused to an older person may range from the effects of verbal harassment through to serious physical injury inflicted deliberately. Harm can also include emotional harm and financial loss including the loss of a home and belongings. 

The older person may be dependent on the abuser, for example if they rely on the abuser for care. It is also common for the abuser to depend on the support of the older person, for example for accommodation. Sometimes, there may be a co-dependent relationship where both the older person and the abuser depend on each other.  

Find information and support : 

 Call 000 in an emergency 

  • 1800 RESPECT (1800 73 77 32). 

 

There are many ways you can get involved in challenging ageism: 

  • Watch the short video below – Imagine a world without ageism from the EveryAGE Counts campaign (narrated by Bryan Brown).  

  • Speak up and start a conversation when you hear someone being ageist 

Council supports the national EveryAGE Counts campaign including recognising Ageism Awareness Day each year in October. 

Council works with other local governments and organisations to prevent and respond to elder abuse, for example through the Eastern Elder Abuse Network. 

Council recognises World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD)  annually on 15 June. WEAAD is celebrated each year, globally, providing an opportunity for communities to stand together against the abuse, mistreatment and neglect of older people.