By Sam Strangeways
Elder abuse allegations have risen more than ten-fold in the past decade with most mistreatment perpetrated by relatives, according to new statistics obtained by The Royal Gazette.
The National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC) received 66 reports of suspected abuse in 2007, compared to just six in 1998.
Officials — who received 19 reports of senior abuse in the first quarter of this year — say they now have the "teeth" to tackle the problem, thanks to new legislation which became law at the end of March.
Abusers, be they family members or professional carers, can be prosecuted for abuse or neglect of a vulnerable old person under the Senior Abuse Register Act 2008 and face a $10,000 fine, three years in jail or both if convicted.
The NOSPC has received 254 cases of alleged abuse since 1995, when the number of reports began to be documented.
The majority of cases — 102 — involve neglect, with 84 reports of verbal abuse, 33 of financial abuse, 23 of self-neglect and ten of physical abuse. There have been two reports of sexual abuse in that period — one in 2007 and one this year.
The office currently has 24 active cases and three victims of alleged abuse are awaiting placement in a residential care home.
Experts told this newspaper the figures released by the NOSPC don't reveal the true scale of elder abuse, as many instances of mistreatment go unreported.
Claudette Fleming, executive director of Age Concern, said the statistics were unsurprising. "I would imagine that they are just the tip of the iceberg, given Bermuda's current socio-economic climate," she said.
Ms Fleming said that though family members could be prosecuted and placed on the Senior Abuse Register under the new Act, there was nothing to deal with the rehabilitation of offenders.
NOSPC manager Melvin Dickinson said the Act would give his staff powers to intervene and hopefully provide seniors and the wider public with the confidence to report suspected abuse.
Abridged
SOURCE: RoyalGazette
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