Abuse of elderly increases in region
Age Concern is reporting a worrying increase in the number of older Manawatu people suffering abuse and neglect.
Often it’s from those closest to them and it’s a trend not limited to the region, with Age Concern’s chief executive Stephanie Clare saying elder abuse is a problem nationally.
Examples of abusive situations include children and grandchildren using an older person’s home and money, as well as online scams and door-to-door scams.
Clare said elder abuse in New Zealand was under-reported, especially as people often felt ashamed after being scammed and did not want to come forward.
There were 311 referrals to Age Concern for cases of abuse and neglect in the Whanganui, Manawatu and Horowhenua region between July 2015 and June 2016 – about six referrals a week in each area.
This was up from 297 referrals for the same period the previous year and 309 referrals between July 2013 and June 2014.
Clare said society was ageist, with grandparents not always being treated with the respect they deserved.
People who used Age Concern services often suffered emotionally and psychologically.their health could also deteriorate as they became withdrawn, she said.
‘‘It eats away at you in a way it shouldn’t if we had an inclusive society.’’
Age Concern statistics show about 75 per cent of alleged abusers were family members – more than half the alleged abusers were adult children or grandchildren.
Often family situations were complex and elderly people relied on the care of the abuser, so instead of reporting the abuse, they put up with it, Clare said.
However, Age Concern is encouraging people to look after their grandparents and look after their elderly community members.
In June, conman William Harding, 77, pleaded guilty in the Whanganui District Court to deception charges.
He preyed on elderly women by
"It eats away at you in a way it shouldn't if we had an inclusive society." Stephanie Clare, Age Concern chief executive
charming them and then scamming them out of thousands of dollars.
Although it was not a common situation, Clare said Harding was an example of an elderly man building trust with women to take advantage of them financially.
Manawatu-based Age Concern social worker Robyn Baker said she had seen an increase in financial abuse.
Referrals tended to increase after public seminars and media raised awareness of the issue, she said.
But, unfortunately, there was still a lot of hidden abuse within the community. ‘‘This is a generation that keeps secrets.’’
Lew Findlay, from Grey Power Manawatu, believed people in Palmerston North were good at recognising elders in trouble.
About four months ago he knew of an elderly woman who had been helped by a dairy owner.
The dairy owner noticed the woman was on her own and seemed out of spirits, so the owner contacted Grey Power.
Months later the woman was in good spirits, was taking part in community groups and attending community meetings, Findlay said.