The Many Forms of Abuse on Elderly (NEW ZEALAND)

The many forms of abuse on elderly

By MELISSA KINEALY - Manukau Courier

21/09/2010

Elder abuse has many forms and faces and it's on the rise in Counties Manukau.

Age Concern Counties Manukau has seen an increase in referrals of complex cases of elder abuse, including financial abuse – from 20 to 60 cases in the last financial year.

Executive officer Wendy Bremner says she's not sure if the increase in financial abuse is connected to the recession or if people are more aware of Age Concern's service and are reporting cases more often.

"Everybody needs to speak up and keep an eye out for neglect," she says.

The organisation's Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Service has clients who need the help of multiple services such as Work and Income, a lawyer, a budgeting service and the police just to get to the bottom of the problem.

A family member might use the elderly person's eftpos card to buy items for themselves or they might not give back change when using cash that was given to them, she says.

Social workers Brenda Strathern and Niuki Hendrikse give advice and support to clients about the problem and point them in the right direction. They are available to discuss problems relating to abuse and can work with the abused and the abusers.

Sibling rivalry and disagreements about who's making the decisions in a family are all factors in elder abuse, Ms Strathern says.

In her role as a social worker she's keen to support the elderly person to retain their independence.

Part of the pair's role is to clarify issues surrounding elder abuse, Ms Hendrikse says.

And there can be twists in a case such as the children who are now doing the abusing were the ones originally abused by the parent, she says.

Abuse also occurs in a wide range of ethnic groups and many elderly people fear being put in a resthome or losing access to their grandchildren if they report it.

But people worried about being abandoned need to remember to put their safety first, Ms Bremner says.

People are also encouraged to learn about the different forms of power of attorney and can call Age Concern for more information.

People can also call 279-4331 if they are suffering from a form of abuse or if they suspect that someone else is.

OPEN DAY - People who work for the rights and wellbeing of the elderly are spreading the word about their services. Age Concern Counties Manukau is holding an open house drop-in day during its annual awareness week next week. It's an opportunity to visit the team, have a cup of tea and a chat and check out the resources available. The open day runs from 10am to 2pm on September 28 at Cambria Park Homestead, 250 Puhinui Rd, Papatoetoe. 

Call Age Concern on 279-4331 ext 800 and feel free to mention if you have a special interest in a particular service. The awareness week runs from September 25 until October 3.

SOURCE:     THE STUFF.CO.NZ
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