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We can all do our part to stop elder abuse

We can all do our part to stop elder abuse

Cornelius Wiley is an 86-year-old man who lived for years as a slave in his own home.

Six years ago, Cornelius was living happily alone in a state house in Glen Innes. Things took a dramatic turn for the worse when the middle aged son of a friend needed somewhere to stay, a man we’ll call Bob. “I invited him in because he had nowhere to go. I felt sorry for him.” Shortly after, Bob’s girlfriend moved in, rapidly draining Cornelius’s finances and his life. “I paid for things – the fridge, the deep freezer. They left me no money.” On top of that, Cornelius was ousted from his own bedroom. He was forced to make multiple trips to the shops each day and he had to do all the cooking and cleaning.

Four years later, Cornelius collapsed in the doorway of a shop and was admitted to hospital.

It only gets worse. When Cornelius was in hospital too scared to go home, Bob and his girlfriend committed the ultimate act of betrayal. “He told other people that Cornelius had passed away, they sold all of his belongings and then trashed his house.” Age Concern Auckland’s social worker explained.

The medical team alerted Age Concern Auckland’s Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention team. The Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention (EANP) Service aims to improve the quality of life of older people in abusive situations and aims to prevent abuse by providing information, education programmes, advocacy and support.

Age Concern worked with Cornelius and other organisations to help move Cornelius to safety. He is now back sporting a smile, living in a rest home and his health is improving.

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Age Concern Auckland’s Chief Executive, Kevin Lamb, says “in Auckland, up to 16,000 older people are living in fear. They are victims of elder abuse and neglect. This is not the society we want to live in.”

“We can reduce the risk of elder abuse if we all just give a little time and attention to the older people in our communities. You can also support your local Age Concern. Age Concern Auckland needs more volunteer visitors in Central and West Auckland – these people are committed once a week to pop over and have a cuppa with an older person. We have also set up a give a little page – we need to raise $500,000 from our communities each year so we can continue to reach and support more people like Cornelius.”

You can contact Age Concern Auckland on 09 820 0184 or www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz and you can make a donation at givealittle.co.nz/org/ageconcernauckland.

Additional notes – About Elder Abuse and Neglect
What is elder abuse and neglect?
Elder Abuse and Neglect 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 people.
How prevalent is elder abuse?
Elder abuse is a global problem.

An analysis of data from the New Zealand Longitudinal Study of Ageing concluded that 10% of the population aged over 65 years who are living in the community experience abuse – that’s more than 16,000 people living in Auckland and 60,000 people living in Aotearoa New Zealand.

International studies report that 3% - 10% of older people experience abuse or neglect each year. It happens to men and women of every religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic group.

However, much abuse goes unreported. It has been estimated that only 1 in 14 of all abuse incidents come to the attention of a service agency that can intervene to help stop the abuse.

Each year, Age Concern’s Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention (EANP) services receive more than 2,000 referrals of older people who may be facing elder abuse or neglect. That’s eight referrals every working day. About three quarters of these situations are confirmed to involve elder abuse or neglect.

The older person and the abuser are generally people who know each other. Statistics from services in Aotearoa New Zealand show that the majority of abusers are members of the older person's family (partners, sons, daughters, in laws, siblings and grandchildren). Other abusers include people employed in positions of trust - residential facility staff or paid carers.

What does elder abuse look like?
Elder Abuse can look like one or more of the following:
Physical Abuse: Infliction of pain, injury or use of force. For example: hitting, pushing, rough handling, over-medication, inappropriate use of restraints or confinement.
Psychological Abuse: Behaviour causing mental anguish, stress or fear. For example: ridicule or threats, harassment or humiliation, preventing choice or decision-making, withholding affection.
Financial Abuse: Illegal or improper use of money, property or other assets. For example: unauthorised taking of money or possessions, misuse of power of attorney, failure to repay loans, use of home and/or utilities without contributing to costs, scams that rely on establishing a relationship with the older person with the intention of exploiting their savings and/or assets, e.g. romance scams.
Neglect: Not providing for physical, emotional or social needs. For example: inadequate food, clothing, shelter, lack of social contact, support, health needs not attended to.
Sexual Abuse: Non-consensual sexual acts or exploitive behaviours. For example: inappropriate touching, sexual acts with someone unable to give consent.
Institutional Abuse: A policy or accepted practice within an organisation that disregards a person’s rights or causes harm. For example: lack of respect for a person’s culture or customs, inappropriate rationing of continence products, inflexible routines e.g. breakfast at 8 am in the dining room.
What are the warning signs?
The following signs may indicate an older person is being abused:
• unexplained behaviour, sleeping or eating habits
• withdrawal and/or edginess
• fear of a particular person
• confusion
• unexplained injuries
• drowsiness (due to over-medication)
• recoiling from touch
• unusual withdrawals from bank accounts
• unpaid bills, lack of money for necessities.
Risk factors that may increase vulnerability
• Inadequate support
• Cognitive impairment
• Family violence, dynamic or dependency
• Social isolation
• Poor physical and mental health
• Financial stress or dependency
• Grief, loss or depression
• Challenging behaviour or substance abuse
What are the effects of elder abuse?
The personal losses associated with abuse can be devastating and include the loss of independence, homes, lifesavings, health, dignity, and security.

Abuse can reduce a person’s independence by undermining their self-esteem and confidence. It also damages family/whānau relationships, financial security, and mental and physical health, increasing dependency on health and support agencies which may result in the need for residential care.
Why don’t older people seek help when they are abused?
Some of the reasons why an older person/kaumātua does not tell anyone about the abuse are:
• They depend on the abuser for support
• They have low self-confidence and self-esteem
• They don’t want to make a fuss
• They are afraid that if they complain the abuse will get worse
• They are isolated, so that it is difficult for them to tell anyone
• They do not know who to tell or how to get help
• They have dementia or an illness prevents them from telling anyone
• They blame themselves for the abuse
• They are ashamed that the abuser is a family/whānau member
What should you do if you suspect elder abuse and/or neglect?
If you suspect that elder abuse and/or neglect is happening to someone you know, contact your local Age Concern for advice.

The Age Concern Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention (EANP) Service aims to improve the quality of life of older people in abusive situations and aims to prevent abuse by providing information, education programmes, advocacy and support.

Our qualified EANP Social Workers have a wide knowledge of the needs of older people and their carers and they work closely with relevant organisations. They are available to talk with groups to help promote public awareness. Seminars and presentations on elder abuse and neglect prevention can also be arranged.

Client feedback survey results tell us that 90% of the older people we support reporting positive improvements to their situations.
Ways you can help prevent elder abuse and neglect
• Love and cherish your older relatives/whanau
• Speak respectfully to older people/ kaumātua
• Include older people/ kaumātua in your social activities
• Phone or visit your older relatives/whanau
• Support older people/ kaumātua to spend their money how they wish
• Encourage and support older people/ kaumātua to make their own decisions
• Honour older people’s/ kaumātua’s wisdom
• Enable older people/ kaumātua to set their own pace
• Respect older people’s/ kaumātua’s stories
• Seek advice from an Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Service when you think an older person/ kaumātua is being abused or neglected

“Ultimately the challenge for us all is not only to listen to what has been said, but to believe and act upon it” (Missing Voices, INPEA and WHO, 2002).

ENDS

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