World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is on 15 June 2019.

Older Australians are valued members of our society.

No older person should be subjected to any form of abuse, often referred to as ‘elder abuse’. Elder abuse 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 person”.

Elder abuse can take various forms such as:

  • physical
  • psychological or emotional
  • sexual
  • financial.

It can also be the result of intentional or unintentional neglect.

Key facts

  • Around 1 in 6 older people experience some form of abuse, a figure higher than previously estimated and predicted to rise as populations age worldwide.
  • Rates of abuse may be higher for older people living in institutions than in the community.
  • Elder abuse can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.
  • Elder abuse is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.
  • The global population of people aged 60 years and older will more than double, from 900 million in 2015 to about 2 billion in 2050.

Source: United Nations website

The national 1800ELDERHelp line (1800 353 374) is available to anyone who wants to talk to someone about potential or actual elder abuse. This service provides information on how you can get help, support and referrals.

Click here to visit NSW’s Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit