Seniors Rights Victoria collects a lot of data about who calls our helpline and why, as well as how many data about the advice we give and the cases we support. We reviewed our helpline data over the final six months (July-December) of 2021 and compared the data to the same six months the previous year.

Here are the results:

Highlights

• Seniors Rights Victoria's helpline receives around 275 calls per month
• 73% of older people who call are women
• 37% of calls were from an older person
• 35% of calls were from family of an older person
• 21% of calls were from a professional
• 9% of calls were from a friend of concerned other and
• 1% were 'other' or unknown
• 61% of calls related to elder abuse
• 39% of calls were unrelated to elder abuse
• Most calls in both 2020 and 2021 were about emotional/ psychological abuse and/or financial abuse
• 36% of the instances of elder abuse were perpetrated by a son and 27% by a daughter
• In the six-month period SRV gave 132 legal advice services and 131 non-legal advice services
• In that time we worked on 39 legal cases ad 46 non-legal cases
• 76 cases were already open in the period
• 46 cases were closed
• Many of the instances of elder abuse had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Reasons ranged from social isolation, delays with VCAT and other service provisions, loss of income and loss of employment of the perpetrator

The helpline is currently being reviewed.

A campaign to raise awareness of elder abuse has been launched by the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The video campaign raises awareness about the warning signs of elder abuse and where to get support.  

Thousands of Australians experience elder abuse every year, and sometimes from those closest to them. Calls to the National Elder Abuse phone line increased by 87% between January 2021 to June 2021 compared to the previous six months.

“Elder abuse can happen to any older person, regardless of their background, and anyone who comes into contact with older people – be it friends, family, health professionals, hairdressers, librarians and many others – may be in a position to notice signs of elder abuse,” Age Discrimination Commissioner the Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO said.

“A key risk factor for financial elder abuse is an increase in financial pressures on the children of older people, such as loss of employment and rising housing costs. COVID-19 may be exacerbating these pressures,” Dr Patterson said.

The National Elder Abuse phone line is Australia-wide, free and confidential.
You will be connected through to the most appropriate service, including Seniors Rights Victoria's helpline.

You can also call the Seniors Rights Victoria helpline on 1800 368 821

Watch the video here.

Facts

Shauna is 75. Recently her only son, Patrick, moved back home with her after her husband died. Her son has substance abuse issues and is physically and psychologically abusive towards her. She is terrified of him but also protective of her only son. Last week he came into her bedroom when she was getting ready for bed and screamed at her and pushed her back so that she fell awkwardly on the bed. Shauna wasn’t hurt but she was shaken up. She feels like it is the drugs that are making him behave the way he is, it’s not the ‘real’ Patrick.

Considerations

Often older parents are called on to assist their adult children, when those children are in crisis. It is reasonable and understandable that parents want to help their children at these times. However, equally, parents should be able to continue to live with dignity and respect and in a safe environment.

Before requests are made from adult children or other relatives to move into an older adult’s home, it’s important to consider how this change in living arrangements will impact on lifestyle. There might be other living options available to an adult child or relative that can be explored before agreement is reached to move into the older adult’s home.

The booklet Care for Your Assets – Money, Ageing and Family has information in it that can assist with these sorts of living arrangements.

Shauna’s safety is at risk because of Patrick’s violence and aggressive behaviour. There are several options available to Shauna to address the abuse. Seniors Rights Victoria can discuss these with her, confidentially.

*Personal details have been changed to protect our client’s privacy.