Elder abuse amid housing crisis

QUEENSLAND’S elderly are the secret victims of the housing crisis as a shocking new report exposes a massive spike in elder abuse cases in the past four years in homes shared by multiple generations of family.

UnitingCare’s latest study into elder abuse, the Year in Review, highlights the distressing extent of psychological, physical and financial abuse on older and vulnerable Queenslanders where relatives move in and try to get their hands on assets. The report reveals a 74 per cent increase in cases since 2018-19 where victims and perpetrators live in the same home.

UnitingCare’s Wellbeing Services general manager Luke Lindsay said the rise in abuse was due to housing shortage, higher interest rates and other cost-of-living pressures.

“Multi-generational living can be challenging and unfortunately relationships can break down, placing the older person at higher risk of distressing financial, psychological or even physical abuse,” Mr Lindsay said.

In the 2021-22 financial year, there were 1374 cases of elder abuse reported when the victim lived under the same roof as the abuser.

“The data shows that we need longer-term solutions – a focus on supporting access to safe, accessible, and affordable housing for victims of elder abuse,” Mr Lindsay said.

The most common type of abuse reported to the Elder Abuse Prevention Unit (EAPU) was psychological (76.6 per cent) then financial (62.1 per cent) and social abuse (27.8 per cent). Ageism was identified in almost one-third of cases, while a sense of entitlement to an older relative’s assets was identified in almost half of cases (44.2 per cent).

Seniors Minister Craig Crawford said many cases of elder abuse involved family or someone they trust. “We are bringing the issue out of the shadows, letting people know there is help and support available,” he said.