15 June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
June 12, 2024
Anglicare Tasmania provides in-home and community aged care services to more than 1600 older Tasmanians across the State. Our team members are trained how to detect the signs of elder abuse.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is held each year on 15 June. The World Health Organisation defines elder abuse as “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.”
The Council on the Ageing Tasmania (COTA Tas) explains: “Elder abuse may involve physical or sexual abuse, taking an older person’s money or possessions, neglecting them, making threats or stopping their social contacts. It can happen at the hands of an adult child or other family member, and it often occurs in the home.”
Anglicare’s General Manager Aged Care Services Ellen Nicholson says regular elder abuse awareness training is mandatory for all team members.
“We check in regularly with our clients and listen and respond to their concerns,” she said. “We can also support them to report their situation to police if this is what they want to do.”
Do you need support or advice?
If you or someone you know may be experiencing elder abuse, contact the Tasmanian Elder Abuse Helpline on 1800 441 169 for support and advice.
The Helpline is operated between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday by Advocacy Tasmania on behalf of the Tasmanian Government. It’s free and confidential.
The Tasmanian Government has developed Lifelong Respect: Tasmania’s strategy to end the abuse of older people (elder abuse) 2023-2029.
