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Respect Older People in the Community
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ACT Seniors related information
Affordable essential services
Elder Abuse Prevention and Assistance
What is Elder Abuse?
Information and Referral - Phone Line
Information and Education - Fact Sheets
ACT Legislative Assembly Report
ACT Government's Response
Benchmarking Research
Agencies and Organisations that can assist
Radio Advertisment (mp3 file 299kb)
Related Links
What is Elder Abuse?
It has been estimated that more than 1,500 cases of elder abuse in Canberra every year.
There's NO Excuse
What is Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People?
Any behaviour that within a relationship of trust that harms an older person.
Who is at risk?
Older people across any cultural, racial, religious, socio-economic and educational and backgrounds may experience elder abuse or mistreatment.
What is regarded as abuse or mistreatment of older people?
Financial Abuse - The illegal or improper use of an older person's money or possessions.
Psychological Abuse - Causing fear or shame, intimidation, humiliation, or making threats.
Physical Abuse - Inflicting pain or injury eg hitting or slapping, restraining, over medicating or refusing medicine.
Sexual Abuse - Sexually abusive or exploitative behaviour, including rape, indecent assault, sexual harassment and indecent behaviour.
Social Abuse - Preventing a person from having social contact with family or friends.
Neglect - The intentional or unintentional failure to provide necessities of life and care.
Why don't we hear more about it?
Those who experience abuse may:-
- Feel ashamed to admit that a person close to them mistreats them
- Blame themselves or think that it is their fault
- Be frightened of what might happen to them if they tell about their situation
- Be worried of what other people may think
- Think that people may not believe them
- Feel isolated socially and/or physically
Many factors may contribute to Elder Abuse:-
- Increased isolation from others
- Language and cultural barriers can restrict the knowledge about services or access to them
- Family members might feel that it's their duty to provide care to ageing parents and refuse to accept outside assistance
- The widening cultural gap between the generations of the family
- A family member might be financially dependent on the older person
- The abuser might have an addiction or mental illness
- A carer may experience significant stress
- A person suffering from dementia might contribute to the carer's stress
Older people have the right to:-
Self Determination and Dignity -Older people have the right to make their own decisions on matters affecting their lives.
Feel Safe - To live safely, free of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Self Fulfilment - To be able to develop their own interests and to participate in educational, cultural, spiritual and social activities.
Access Information and assistance - To access information and assistance that is culturally and linguistically appropriate.
Participate in the community - Share their knowledge, contribute to the community and be an active member of society.
Information and Referral - Phone Line
The Elder Abuse Information and Referral Phone Line provides support, information and referral to services that may assist with abusive situations. This service is available to older people, their family, friends and others who are concerned about elder abuse. This line also assists service providers who work with older people who may be experiencing, or at risk of abuse. The line operates Monday to Friday during business hours.
Phone: (02) 6205 3535 - 9am to 5pm
Domestic Violence Crisis Service - after hours
Phone: (02) 6280 0900 - 24 hours
If you are in immediate physical danger you should call the Police on 000 or 131 444
Information and Education - Fact Sheets
ACT Elder Abuse Policy Agenda - Executive Summary [RTF 29KB]
ACT Elder Abuse Policy Agenda - Executive Summary [PDF 33KB]
The Elder Abuse Information Referral Phone Line [RTF 16KB]
The Elder Abuse Information Referral Phone Line [PDF 22KB]
What is Elder Abuse or Mistreatment of Older People [RTF 27KB]
What is Elder Abuse or Mistreatment of Older People [PDF 20KB]
Older Peoples Rights [RTF 16KB]
Older Peoples Rights [PDF 17KB]
ACT Community Services to support older people experiencing elder abuse [RTF 46KB]
ACT Community Services to support older people experiencing elder abuse [PDF 41KB]
Office of the Community Advocate [RTF 108KB]
Office of the Community Advocate [PDF 32KB]
Public Trustee for the ACT [RTF 29KB]
Public Trustee for the ACT [PDF 29KB]
Community and Health Services Complaints Commissioner [RTF 153KB]
Community and Health Services Complaints Commissioner [PDF 27KB]
Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme [RTF 133KB]
Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme [PDF 22KB]
Carers ACT [RTF 36KB]
Carers ACT [PDF 27KB]
Guardianship and Property Management Tribunal [RTF 1.26MB]
Guardianship and Property Management Tribunal [PDF 61KB]
Domestic Violence Crisis Service [RTF 16KB]
Domestic Violence Crisis Service [PDF 24KB]
Alzheimer's Australia [RTF 180KB]
Alzheimer's Australia [PDF 31KB]
Human Rights Office [RTF 584KB]
Human Rights Office [PDF 34KB]
ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service [RTF 24KB]
ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service [PDF 26KB]
Domestic Violence and Personal Unit - Legal Aid Commission, ACT [RTF 17KB]
Domestic Violence and Personal Unit - Legal Aid Commission, ACT [PDF 25KB]
ACT Elder Abuse Prevention - Training Kit [RTF 2.8MB]
ACT Elder Abuse Prevention - Training Kit [PDF 1.1MB]
ACT Elder Abuse Prevention Program Policy April 2010
Following a Strategic Review of the ACT Elder Abuse Prevention Program, a new Program Policy was agreed by Government in April 2010.
The Policy outlines approaches for preventing and responding to abuse, roles and responsibilities of key agencies, and reporting requirements.
The ACT Government will be working with key agencies to implement the Policy and to ensure the best possible prevention and support strategies for the older members of our community.
ACT Elder Abuse Prevention Program Policy [RTF 674KB]
Strategic Review of the ACT Elder Abuse Prevention Program
In October 2008, the ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services commissioned Communio Pty Ltd to undertake a Strategic Review of the ACT Elder Abuse Prevention Program. The Final Report, delivered in January 2009 made recommendations for the future development of the Elder Abuse Prevention Program aimed at developing a more co-ordinated and multidisciplinary approach to addressing abuse of older people in the ACT.
Elder Abuse Final Report [RTF 4.4MB]
Elder Abuse Final Report [PDF 253KB]
ACT Legislative Assembly's Report
Report No. 11 "Elder Abuse in the ACT (August 2001)" outlines the findings of the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Health and Community Care. The Report contains 14 recommendations that seek to address elder abuse in the ACT.
Report No. 11 "Elder Abuse in the ACT (August 2001)" [RTF 373KB]
Report No. 11 "Elder Abuse in the ACT (August 2001)" [PDF 225KB]
ACT Government's Response
The ACT Government's Response to the ACT Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Health and Community Care was released in September 2002. All recommendations made by the Standing Committee were supported by the ACT Government as set out in the response that was developed through broad consultation. The consultative process included liaising with the NSW Government's Office for Ageing, the Queensland Government's Office for Seniors Interests, other ACT agencies including the Department of Health and Community Care, ACT Community Care, the Office of the Public Trustee, and the Office of the Community Advocate. Discussions also took place with the ACT Council on the Ageing and the ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS).
ACT Government's Response [RTF 63KB]
ACT Government's Response [PDF 68KB]
Benchmarking Research
Benchmarking research was commissioned by the ACT Office for Ageing as an initial strategy in the responses to elder abuse. The key objectives of the research were to establish :
- the level of awareness of elder abuse,
- whether and how the term is understood,
- if it is reported, and
- how it can be addressed.
The results of this research are outlined in the Study on Elder Abuse [PDF 1MB]
The results of this research are outlined in the Study on Elder Abuse [WORD 1,173KB]
Agencies and Organisations that can assist
Many ACT agencies and organisations can assist in situations of elder abuse depending on what types of abuse are occurring and the older person's needs.
ACT agencies and organisations [RTF 292KB]
ACT agencies and organisations [PDF 85KB]
Elder Abuse Pathways for Response [PDF 1.6MB]
