Tasmanian advocacy groups say elder abuse is a growing problem

Advocacy Tasmania chief executive Leanne Groombridge said the helpline has been contacted regarding about 900 cases of alleged abuse in less than four years. She said in the 11-month period from July 2015 to May 2016, the helpline received 200 calls about elder abuse.

Ms Groombridge said Advocacy Tasmania had provided advocacy assistance in 43 of these cases which included a misuse of Power of Attorney and guardianship powers, missing possessions, abusive neighbours, forced will changes, social isolation, and alleged physical, financial, emotional, sexual and physical abuse.

Of these calls, 34 per cent came from concerned family members, 31 per cent were made by the older person, 63 per cent of cases related to older women, and 77 per cent of alleged abusers were close family members.

"Over the last three years, physical and psychological dependence, family conflict, and isolation have been the major risk factors we have observed through the helpline," Ms Groombridge said.

"Mistreatment of an older person typically occurs in their own home and usually at the hands of their children, or other family."

In an alleged financial abuse case, a niece of a 93-year-old man believed his carer withdrawn $8000 over a year from the man's bank account.

In a case that combined physical, social and psychological abuse, the helpline received a call from an 83-year-old woman who stated her male carer - who was also her Power of Attorney - would not allow her to leave the house on social outings, restricted her movement in the house they shared and had control of her finances.  She told the respondent that she was scared and intimidated by the carer and wanted help to enter residential aged care while he was on holiday. Ms Groombridge said this happened and most of her belongings were returned and she was in control of her money for the first time in many years.

In an abuse case involving a family member, a 92-year-old woman was living in a jointly owned home with her granddaughter who screamed at and shook the women when she was angry.

The Protecting Older Tasmanians from Abuse strategy estimates that close to 5000 Tasmanians over the age of 65 will suffer some form of elder abuse this year. It concedes, however, that many instances of abuse go unreported and that the figure may in fact be much higher. Council on the Ageing Tasmania chief executive Sue Leitch said adult children are the main perpetrators, mainly sons against mothers, and parents felt shame and embarrassment in reporting the behaviour.

“Sometimes the older person is fearful that they will be sent to a nursing home if they don’t give their children the money or assets they demand,” she said.

“The older ‘silent generation’ in their 70s and 80s come from a generation that are stoic and do not like to air their private matters publicly.

“This generation have usually lived modest  and frugal lives, often accumulating over time significant nest eggs from their modest incomes.

“Their children feel entitled to this money and that their needs should come first – also known as “ inheritance impatience” .

Ms Leitch said Tasmania had the largest and fastest growing older population in Australia so there was reason to believe that abuse of elders was “the tip of a large and nasty iceberg.”

“Similar to what is being done in family violence prevention, there is a need to map the available data that currently sits with legal firms, women’s shelters, the police and the Helpline in order to fully understand the extent and depth of the problem,” she said.

“Elder abuse is still very much a hidden and unattractive  problem within a society engaged with youth and glamour.

TasCOSS acting-chief executive Jo Flanagan said Tasmanians in general were more vulnerable to experiencing disadvantage than people in other states.

“And this is magnified for older Tasmanians who often have low incomes and poor or deteriorating health,” she said.

“For older Tasmanians in this situation, it doesn’t take more than one unexpected cost or health issue to tip them into major disadvantage where they risk homelessness, isolation or poor health outcomes.

“Yet the government continues to cut back on the preventative health services which help people move into older age in good health.”

The Examiner’s Winter Relief appeal supports Launceston Benevolent Society, Launceston City Mission, St Vincent de Paul, and Salvation Army deliver services to the needy – young and old. Donations to the appeal can be received at The Examiner’s Cimitiere Street office and at donation tins placed in businesses around Launceston.

There will be a Walk Against Elder Abuse in Hobart on Wednesday, June 15 at 2.45pm from St David’s Park for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Council on the Aging will host an information session at Launceston's Town Hall on Thursday, June 16, from 10.30am that will cover warning signs of financial abuse.