Reducing elder abuse means first stopping ageism

Every one of us has a role in ensuring safety of older people, explains Terese Henning

WHILE

the majority of people over 60 live active, healthy and productive lives, as a community we must ensure all older people are respected, supported and able to live free of abuse.

The truth of the matter is, however, that older people may experience what is called elder abuse. Whether in their homes, among family and friends or in aged-care facilities, older people may experience physical, psychological or emotional, sexual or financial abuse and intentional or unintentional neglect. It may involve taking an older person’s money or possessions, neglecting them, making threats or stopping their social contacts. It may happen at the hands of an adult child or trusted friend, a care worker or other person charged with responsibility for their wellbeing, and it often occurs in the family home. We cannot be certain how many are bullied, hurt, neglected or defrauded, but the Institute of Family Studies suggests it could be as many as one in 10.

Seniors make up a larger proportion of Tasmania’s population than they do in other states. While we have the luxury of their wisdom and experience, we need to make sure they can expect to be safe, valued and supported. Elder abuse violates the human rights of Tasmanians to live full lives and feel safe.

Each of us has a role to play. University of Tasmania researchers in law, health and sociology have joined forces to investigate elder abuse and to support prevention. This team, the Preventing Elder Abuse in Tasmania team, is working with Equal Opportunity Tasmania and Council on the Ageing. They hosted a symposium in Hobart last year, where 60 representatives from legal, health, police, community, aged-care and union organisations called for action to prevent elder abuse.

Strategies to be included in state policies include: IMPROVE ways to counteract ageism. PROMOTE community understanding and shared responsibility for addressing elder abuse and neglect through awareness campaigns. WORK towards making human rights central to how our community — and organisations and institutions — treats its members. ACKNOWLEDGE human rights are held for life and not only for as long as we can selfadvocate and self-protect. Legislation is needed which incorporates a rights-based approach or operates based on charters or declarations on rights of older persons.

Immediate actions: ENACT adult protection legislation coupled with a review of guardianship and powers-of-attorney laws through a human rights lens. REVIEW existing criminal laws and their operation, as well as the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in cases of elder abuse. TAKE PART in a national education and awareness campaign. The Preventing Elder Abuse in Tasmania team is also investigating how organisations with direct involvement in the lives of older people are working to prevent and respond to ageism and abuse.

A report from the Symposium and other information is available via Law.Reform@utas.edu.au (attention PEAT).

Every state and territory has developed elder abuse strategies, led awareness campaigns and set up an elder abuse helpline. Yet older people continue to be abused.

In February the Australian Attorney-General announced that the Council of Australian

Governments (COAG) would develop a national plan on elder abuse. This is very welcome. However, legislative and legal responses will only work if they are aligned with public education that supports cultural change relating to human rights and ageism.

Elder abuse is a human rights issue with the potential to affect us all: ELDER abuse violates the right to dignity, respect, autonomy, liberty and physical safety. It should therefore be addressed as a rights issue. AUSTRALIA lacks a rights culture and has a complex federal approach to ageing and aged care. This hampers its ability to address elder abuse. ELDER abuse is a hidden, under-reported, yet prevalent and increasing, societal issue. BY 2045, Australians over f 65 will comprise more than 25 per cent of the population and those over 80 will have increased to 5 per cent. It is estimated that 2-10 per cent of Australians over 65 have been the victim of elder abuse.

Unless these critical factors are taken into account, Australia will not come to grips adequately with this major social problem.

Ageism is at the core of elder abuse.

We live in an era that values youth over age. Ageism normalises disrespect and paternalism towards older people, and these are the seeds of elder abuse.

Too often, older people are portrayed as either irrelevant and out of touch, or frail, forgetful and worthless.

Research has found 98 per cent of Facebook group descriptions of older adults reflect negative stereotypes.

These stereotypes are now so embedded in society and social media that only a concerted national campaign that combines legislation with education can begin to stop the abuse and marginalisation of older people.

This approach has proved successful in response to family violence and institutional child abuse. Sadly, elder abuse is still largely hidden.

As our population ages, the number of people affected will increase, so it’s more important than ever we raise awareness and challenge negative attitudes towards ageing. Older people don’t have to put up with abuse and have the right to live with dignity and safety. Associate Professor Terese Henning is director of the Tasmania Law Reform Institute and a member of PEAT at the University of Tasmania. The views in this article are not expressed on behalf of the university or institute.