By DEANNA HARRIS - Whangarei Leader
Elderly people are being abused at an alarming rate and most of the abuse is dished out by family.
Between January 1, 2006 and September 1, 2008 Age Concern Whangarei referred 122 cases to the Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Service.
Amanda Vun of Age Concern says the majority of cases are when family are abusing elderly financially and psychologically.
"I think a lot of this abuse stems from the fact that older people have control taken away from them," says Ms Vun.
She says sometimes people are not aware that they are abusing a person, so Age Concern has teamed up with 155 Community House to create a short film and two advertisements on elderly abuse in Whangarei.
"The theme is ‘take control’ and the message that we really want to get across is for people to support older people and help them remain in control of their lives for as long as possible," says Ms Vun.
She says older people with health problems and without a driver’s licence are most vulnerable to abuse.
The film and adverts are set to be completed by early next year and will screen on Channel North as well as being available to view at Whangarei Age Concern.
Ms Vun says this will be the first time a film has been created locally for local people.
Whangarei Age Concern, 155 Community House, Channel North and other agencies are in the planning stages of creating the film and would like to hear from anyone interested in acting, script writing or who has a story to be told.
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