15 June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Each year we mark WEAAD and stand together against the abuse, mistreatment and neglect of older people in our society. Though prevalent, violence against older people is a topic that is often absent from public discourse. The intersection of ageism and a tendency to frame ‘care’ as a burden can often function to excuse or minimise the problem and render the harms experienced by older people reliant on care as barely visible, aside from the most egregious cases. But, like intimate partner and family violence – which can be synonymous with elder abuse – it is crucial to address elder abuse on a whole of society level to ensure that the safety, health and wellbeing and human rights of everyone across our communities are valued and protected equally.
What does the evidence say?
Elder abuse is often seen as purely physical, but it can also be financial, emotional, sexual, or psychological. Research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (2022) revealed that 15% of Australians over the age of 65 experience some form of abuse in the past 12 months. This percentage only includes those that are willing and able, or feel safe to say, that they have experienced abuse and does not account for the people that are suffering in silence.
In most cases the abuser is someone known to the victim. This form of abuse is most commonly perpetrated by a family member or someone else known and trusted by the victim, with institutional abuse also experienced by older people reliant on others for their care. While elder abuse affects everyone, regardless of gender, women are more likely to be targeted. According to Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV), two thirds of those seeking help are women. First Nations people and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are also more likely to suffer abuse.
Primary prevention and elder abuse
At Women’s Health Goulburn North East we strongly reject agism and celebrate people at all stages of life. Our value does not deteriorate with age. We encourage everyone to call out agism and band together to support older people across Victoria and Australia. The primary prevention of gender-based violence also encompasses the prevention of elder abuse.
With places across the world experiencing a rapidly aging population, it is important to act now to ensure we erase elder abuse, before this problem becomes an epidemic. We can all challenge dismissive and disrespectful attitudes towards older people, and collectively increase the value we give to the importance of care in our society.
Preventing elder abuse is everyone’s responsibility. If you fear that someone you know is suffering from elder abuse, you can get more information on what to do through this link: