Age Concern New Zealand media release

Budget – 17 May 2007

Budget leaves some elder abuse victims unsupported

Extra funding in today’s Budget will benefit some older people, says Age Concern New Zealand, but there’s nothing new to combat the scourge of elder abuse and neglect.

Age Concern provides most of the Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention (EANP) services around New Zealand.

“Elder abuse in resthomes is in the news at the moment,” says Jayne McKendry, Age Concern’s New Zealand’s EANP professional adviser.

“All our stats say it’s much wider than that. Most elder abuse happens in older people’s own homes, and is committed by members of their own families.

“Yet parts of New Zealand still don’t have any services to help them.

“Extra Budget funding for Ministry of Health services will help older people, but we’re disappointed that the Minister of Social Development doesn’t seem to see abused older people as a priority.”

Age Concern is seeking to expand elder abuse and neglect prevention services into parts of the country that currently have no cover.

Currently older people in Thames-Coromandel, Rotorua, the Far North and Grey District, along with parts of the main centres and rural communities are unsupported.

“The government’s Positive Ageing Strategy for older people has a goal that older people feel safe and secure,” Jayne McKendry says. “The strategy says protection from elder abuse and neglect is a vital part of older people’s health and well-being, but we’re not seeing additional support for it in this year’s Budget.”

ends

© Scoop Media