Bid to protect elderly victims of abuse

Charity will recruit volunteers to help people regain their confidence

A project to help elderly abuse victims rebuild their lives will launch in Fife.

In a first for Scotland, Action on Elder Abuse Scotland will run the recovery project.

Staffed by trained volunteers, it will help abused older people regain their confidence and independence.

It is hoped the project could act as a blueprint for Scotland.

Estimates suggest around 10% of older Scots, more than 100,000 people, experience some form of abuse each year.

This can include physical and sexual assaults, theft, psychological torment or neglect by people or institutions which should be caring for them.

In Fife around 7,500 people may be affected each year, although much of this remains hidden as victims may be unwilling or unable to speak out.

The charity is recruiting volunteers to launch the initiative later this spring.

Abuse victims will be matched with volunteers who have similar interests or may, themselves, have experienced abuse.

Unlike general befriending services, the project goes much further by focusing on recovery, building resilience, and helping older people regain their independence.

Action on Elder Abuse already runs similar projects in the south of England where the majority of victims supported are female and over 70.

The project’s launch comes just months after the publication of a draft Scottish Government strategy for tackling loneliness and isolation.

Lesley Carcary, Action on Elder Abuse’s Scotland director, said: “We know that loneliness and isolation are really significant factors in why somebody might be a victim of elder abuse, because it can make them vulnerable and an easy target for unscrupulous individuals.

“But it also makes it much harder to recover because these people often don’t have social networks to speak up about what’s happened to them.

“They might never report their abuse, especially if it’s happening in a care home setting or if the perpetrator is a family member.”

The project aims to reach out to those who have become isolated and withdrawn because of the abuse they’ve experienced.

“Because they may be traumatised, these people often don’t leave the house anymore, and this can really affect their mental health and in turn their physical health as well,” she said. Now the hunt is on for volunteers. Key attributes include empathy, listening skills and an ability to build rapport.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Brian Rapley on 07496 323801 or visit elderabuse.org.uk/ in-scotland.

Because they may be traumatised, these people often don’t leave the house anymore, and this can really affect their mental health