Offspring blamed for 46% of elder abuse

ABUSE of the elderly has increased by almost one-third since the crash of 2008.

And most of the abuse is now being carried out against pensioners by their own sons or daughters – last year 46 per cent of abuse complaints were against offspring.

According to a Health Service Executive report, there were 2,460 complaints of elder abuse made to authorities last year.

This is up 7 per cent on the previous year and up 30 per cent since data on elderly abuse in Ireland started to be collected in 2008.

Frank Murphy, chairman of the National Elder Abuse Steering Committee, said: ‘The number of referrals of alleged abuse of older people to the HSE services has increased again in 2012. There has been a year-on-year increase since 2008.

‘I would encourage anyone concerned about abuse of older people to contact their GP, pub- lic health nurse or any healthcare worker.’

The study notes that ‘most alleged abuse is perpetrated by a family member’.

And 2012 saw an increase in cases where a son or daughter was the alleged perpetrator.

Of those reported to the authorities, 46 per cent were carried out by a son or daughter while a victim’s partner, husband or wife was implicated in 17 per cent of cases. ‘Other relatives’ were implicated in 20 per cent of cases.

Psychological abuse was the most common type reported, making up 36 per cent of complaints. Others included financial abuse, which made up 25 per cent of reports while neglect and physical abuse made up 19 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

According to the HSE’s Elder Abuse Services, last year two-thirds of alleged victims were female and there was a higher referral rate among victims aged over 80 compared to 65-to 79-year- olds. Most of the complaints about abuse were reported to a nurse.

Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, Kathleen Lynch, said: ‘ It’s disturbing that a small number of older people should suffer abuse.

‘However, there are services available for those people and it is encouraging that a greater number of older people are coming forward each year to voice their concerns.

‘I would urge anyone who is concerned about abuse to seek help and support from the HSE which has a dedicated service in place for older people experiencing abuse.’

Age Action Ireland spokesman Eamon Timmins said: ‘Age Action welcomes the rise in the number of cases of alleged elder abuse referred to the HSE’s specialist elder abuse service last year, noting it is evidence that progress continues to be made to address a largely hidden problem in Irish society.

‘The 7 per cent increase in the number of alleged cases of elder abuse shows that more older people are unwilling to continue to suffer in silence, and there is greater public awareness of the HSE’s elder abuse service.’

The HSE said: ‘The increase in referrals has been assisted by a number of actions co-ordinated by the National Elder Abuse Steering Committee. These include awareness campaigns, training provided to healthcare staff and co-hosting an annual conference to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

‘Despite budgetary and staffing pressures experienced in 2012, a total of 6,221 individuals received training on elder abuse.’

Anyone concerned about abuse should ring the Information Line on 1850 24 1850, or talk to a GP, public health nurse or social worker.