Govt Accused Over Elder Abuse Inaction (Tas. AUSTRALIA)

20 August, 2009

Research shows up to 4,000 elderly Tasmanians have suffered abuse. (ABC News)

The Tasmanian Government has been accused of not acting to stop the abuse of elderly people.

Up to 4,000 Tasmanians have been the victims of various forms of abuse, including physical and psychological.

Tasmania's the only state or territory that does not have a strategy for tackling the problem.

The Council's Maxine Griffiths says it is unacceptable.

"It's taken over 10 years to get anything happening around this particular issue," she said.

"Elder abuse in Tasmania affects between 3,000-4,000 Tasmanians so we're talking about something quite serious and it's those seniors that live in our community that are being affected by this issue."

The Government has given an assurance it is working on an elder abuse strategy to help victims and support organisations.

The Health Minister Lara Giddings has told Parliament substantial research has already been undertaken.

"The research and analysis phase has concluded, the next phase in formulating response will focus on service delivery."

Ms Giddings says that report has now been referred to the Health and Human Services Department.

SOURCE: ABC NET.AU, AUSTRALIA

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What elder abuse? They do not have it in Australia. At least that's what was hinted -- by the deafening silence/No Response, to enquiries by private citizens to the Ministers of Health and Ageing.

Best way to act -- Look the other way, or call for another Inquiry.

There was a Parliamentary Inquiry into Older People and the Law, a couple of years ago. The report was published and presented in Parliament.

Can we assume that the government is so busy in implementing the recommendations of that report that they do not have time to inform the public; or to raise awareness of the non-existing problem of EA on the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day?

................ AC

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