June 15, 2018
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2018, UnitingCare Australia acknowledges the need for greater awareness of the prevalence of elder abuse in our community and our shared responsibility to look out for each other.
It is likely that between 2% and 10% of older Australians experience elder abuse in any given year, and the prevalence of neglect is possibly higher1. This figure indicates that we need to do more to strengthen the connections that build safety and security within our community.
‘We welcome the announcement by the Federal Government to create Elder Abuse Action Australia, a network of organisations working towards combatting elder abuse in our community’ says National Director Claerwen Little.
UnitingCare Australia believes that elders in our community must be treated with respect. They should be able to live well, as part of their community, with dignity and independence, and in a place of their choosing.
Our commitment to helping improve the lives of everyone, in particular the most vulnerable is a key principle of the UnitingCare Network of services. To this end UnitingCare Queensland has been operating the Elder Abuse Prevention Service since 1997. This important resource can be found here.
1 Kaspiew, R., Carson, R., & Rhoades, H. (2015). Elder abuse: Understanding issues, frameworks and responses (Research Report No. 35).
Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2018, UnitingCare Australia acknowledges the need for greater awareness of the prevalence of elder abuse in our community and our shared responsibility to look out for each other.
It is likely that between 2% and 10% of older Australians experience elder abuse in any given year, and the prevalence of neglect is possibly higher1. This figure indicates that we need to do more to strengthen the connections that build safety and security within our community.
‘We welcome the announcement by the Federal Government to create Elder Abuse Action Australia, a network of organisations working towards combatting elder abuse in our community’ says National Director Claerwen Little.
UnitingCare Australia believes that elders in our community must be treated with respect. They should be able to live well, as part of their community, with dignity and independence, and in a place of their choosing.
Our commitment to helping improve the lives of everyone, in particular the most vulnerable is a key principle of the UnitingCare Network of services. To this end UnitingCare Queensland has been operating the Elder Abuse Prevention Service since 1997. This important resource can be found here.
Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.