HSE 'failing to help' victims of elder abuse
June 19 2009
A wheelchair-bound pensioner, who has suffered four years of abuse at the hands of his wife, is just one case of elder abuse the authorities are powerless to stop, it is claimed.
The Dublin man, who is in his 80s, has refused to make a complaint against his wife, despite being discovered covered in bruises by care workers.
Bruises
A health sector source, shocked by the case, told the Herald this was one example of how the justice system is "miserably failing the victims of elder abuse".
It comes after the latest figures revealed HSE staff had received 2,767 reports of elder abuse in the last two years -- but under-reporting means the real number could be as high as 24,000.
The abuse of the disabled man by his wife only came to light when he went to a respite care centre and staff noticed bruises all over his body.
The source claimed: "He presented with bruises all over, which staff saw when he was having a shower. He broke down and said he had been attacked by his wife.
"When she was confronted, she denied everything. Then he denied it as well. She was hitting him day in, day out.
Health care workers feel victims do not open up to them on home visits because the abuser is present.
Extreme
Age Action Ireland said that many older people suffer abuse in silence, despite the existence of a dedicated support network.
A spokesman said cases requiring garda intervention were "extreme" and rare.
He said: "There are certain areas where there could be more legislation to make it easier for the gardai to move in, but the main thing is we need greater awareness of what elder abuse is about."
Abridged
SOURCE: Herald.ie - Dublin,Ireland
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