Families abuse elderly
By DEANNA HARRIS
Whangarei Leader
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
The abuse of elderly people in resthomes has been highlighted in the news lately but the statistics show most abuse comes from family members.
Last month an Auckland rest-home was closed after pictures of a elderly resident with her mouth taped shut were made public.
"It is understandable that reports and images of this nature make an impact, because they are extreme and graphic and fortunately very rare," says Amanda Vun, from the Elder Abuse Service, Age Concern Whangarei.
But Ms Vun says the issue that needs attention is subtle abusive practices of elderly with the majority of abusers being family members.
In over two-thirds of cases the abuser is in the older person’s own family, she says.
Age Concern, Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention services in Whangarei has received 25 elderly abuse cases so far this year. Nationwide the organisation responds to about 600 cases each year, but many more remain hidden by shame, fear or the inability to get help.
"The most prevalent type is financial abuse," says Ms Vun. "This can range from stealing the change when taking them shopping to stealing property."
A recent report released by Age Concern shows 42 percent of cases involve financial abuse and 62 percent involve psychological abuse, more than one type of abuse can happen.
The same report shows 79 percent of abusers are family members of the abused and 59 percent of abusers aged under 65 years of age were the children of the abuser.
Fifty-seven percent of abusers aged over 65 are the husband of the abused.
Ms Vun says family members feel they are entitled to the money.
Only 7 percent of abuse or neglect cases are related to institutional policy or practice.
Ms Vun says abuse in institutions such as resthomes are often blamed on staffing shortages and tight budgets but it only happens in a few homes and the rest cope with the same pressures without abuse or neglect of their residents.
SOURCE: StuffDotCoNZ
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