Elder Abuse: A Growing ProblemElder Abuse: A Growing Problem Government data suggests that at least one in six Australians over 65 experiences elder abuse, with the actual number likely being higher as the study did not include people with cognitive decline or those living in nursing homes. A new advertisement from the government aims to raise awareness about elder abuse by portraying an elderly man whose behavior suggests abuse at home. The ad encourages individuals to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald has called for a national strategy from the pensions industry to address elder abuse. He compares the current situation to the state of child protection and domestic violence response several decades ago. The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission’s abuse helpline has seen a significant increase in calls, with psychological abuse being the most prevalent type of complaint. Fitzgerald attributes this trend to factors such as the aging population, rising poverty among older people, and “inherited impatience.” An independent report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies indicates progress in implementing the national plan to combat elder abuse. The plan involves collaboration between state and federal governments.
According to the government, the finding of one in six is likely an underestimate, as the study did not take into account people with cognitive decline or people in nursing homes.
The new ad shows an elderly man going about his day, chatting happily with a neighbor and his hairdresser. But when asked about his home life, the man’s behavior changes.
Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM.
“Ending elder abuse starts with a conversation. If something doesn’t feel right, talk to someone you trust,” the ad reads.
Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM last month called on the pensions industry to introduce a national strategy to tackle abuse.
“We are now really at the point where child protection was 30 years ago and where domestic violence was 20 years ago,” Fitzgerald previously told a parliamentary hearing in New South Wales, warning that “we will not have that time to respond”.
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The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission’s abuse helpline received 14,025 calls in 2022-23, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year.
Of the more than 5,000 complaints filed with the commission, the highest number involved psychological abuse (41.7 percent).
Speaking at the NSW Budget Estimates in late 2023, Fitzgerald said the trend was due to more people reaching the age of 75, rising poverty among older people – particularly among single women – and an emerging phenomenon of “inherited patience”.
“Our children – my children – will have to wait much longer for the transfer of wealth, and that transfer of wealth will be delayed by five to 10 years,” he said.
“What we know about adult children is that they are not patient, so inherited impatience will actually increase.”
An independent report from the Australian Institute of Family Studies this month found that the national plan to tackle abuse of older Australians is working well. The plan brings together the state and federal governments to tackle the scourge.
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