New help for victims of elder abuse
The recent sentencing of an Auckland woman for fleecing her aged father of his life savings reinforces the urgent need to intervene to change older people’s lives and provide services that keep them safe from elder abuse.
This example and other sickening cases, combined with our ageing population, means a different approach is needed.
Effective and accessible help and intervention needs to be available wherever and whenever victims need it.
This is why the Government has launched a new service to help protect vulnerable older New Zealanders, with increased funding. There will be a wider geographical spread of service providers to help more at risk elderly people than ever before.
The service is available in each region through organisations that have been selected specifically based on their ability to deliver an effective intervention service for our vulnerable older people.
The Ministry of Social Development ran a rigorous procurement and tendering process, with applications being assessed by an independent panel.
In addition to longstanding providers like Age Concern, which nationally receives a funding increase, 18 new organisations will be involved including 10 Age Concern branches which will be receiving funding for the first time.
The cornerstone of the new service Elder Abuse Response Service is a free and confidential 24/7 help-line, 0800 32 668 65 (0800 EA NOT OK).
Registered nurses will be on the other end of the phone to listen and advise anyone who needs information or support about elder abuse. Callers will then be referred to their local elder abuse services to get the help they need.
With translation services available to the free 24/7 helpline, and providers selected to ensure services are culturally responsive, the new service will be able to respond to the social, economic, political and spiritual values of our different cultures and ethnic groups, including Maori, Pasifika, Indian, Chinese and Korean communities.
All seniors deserve to be treated with respect, with dignity and with care, whatever their background or circumstances.
Older New Zealanders should be able to trust their families and those close to them but the sad reality is that 79 per cent of those who report elder abuse are harmed by family members and 43 per cent of victims live with their abuser.
Up to 70,000 seniors will experience some form of elder abuse this year – physical, psychological, sexual, financial or neglect – but the problem is largely hidden with most cases not reported because many victims are too ashamed to admit they are being abused.
That has to change. The message is clear: ‘‘Elder Abuse is not ok. If you see abuse, please speak out against it.