15 June 2021
Today, June 15, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day dedicated by the United Nations in 2011 to encourage global opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on older generations.
The ANMF (SA Branch) has for years been an impassioned advocate for the rights and protection of the elderly through our aged care campaigns, calling for greater transparency and improved staff and skills mix ratios in nursing homes.
Please join our ongoing aged care campaign at
itsnottoomuch.com, which urges the Morrison Government to act now to safeguard our elderly from abuse and neglect.
Without mandated minimum staffing levels and skills mix guaranteed to meet the care needs of vulnerable aged care residents, Australia’s elderly and their families will continue to suffer.
The UN says that not only are older persons at high risk of serious illness and mortality, but they continue to face disproportionate cases of age-based discrimination, stigmatisation and are subjected to multiple violations of human rights. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on reports of abuse and neglect of older persons, particularly in long term care institutions and the community.
This year’s theme “Access to Justice” serves as a reminder of the importance to fully address the needs of older persons who may seek recourse, the UN says. Older persons who have experienced situations of violence, abuse and neglect often face multiple barriers in accessing judicial remedies such as issues of accessibility, affordability, reasonable accommodation, excessive delays and backlogs in judicial processes, impact of digitalisation, cultural norms, gender bias, discrimination, and entrenched ageism in policy, norms and practices.
In South Australia, financial and psychological abuse are the most common forms of elder abuse, with older women more likely to experience abuse from their adult children.
Around one in 20 older Australians is experiencing some form of abuse from someone they know and trust, often a member of their own family.
SA’s Office for Ageing Well continues to promote awareness of elder abuse. In May it launched the seventh annual Stop Elder Abuse campaign which will run 20 June.
In this year’s Stop Elder Abuse campaign, the focus is on older people’s rights – the right to safety, dignity and autonomy – to be safe, to be treated in a way that makes them feel worthwhile, and to be free to live the life they choose.
People experiencing elder abuse may display fear, sadness and neglect, amongst other signs, and abuse can also be physical, sexual, chemical and emotional.
It is vital that families, friends and the broader community respect older people’s rights and, if abuse is suspected, do something about it, in a way that upholds those rights.
If people do have concerns, call the SA Abuse Prevention Phone Line on 1800 372 310 for free, confidential advice and support, or to make a report to the Adult Safeguarding Unit.
For more information go to
sahealth.sa.gov.au/stopelderabuse.