Elder abuse is not just from family

Elder abuse is a horrible fact of life in most societies and generally it refers to members of the aged persons family abusing the aged person via many different means, eg physically, financially, socially. But aged people are also vulnerable to abuse from other sectors of the community as well.

This is often broadcast over the nightly news when an aged person is bashed while out in the community, robbed and assaulted in their home or targeted and abused by staff in an aged care facility. The recent aged care reform report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Final Report | Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety) highlights the issues aged people in residential facilities are facing across Australia.

There are also disgusting people that try to con aged persons into helping them by playing on their sympathies -asking for money, lifts to places and help with other supports then using the aged persons kindness and also loneliness to sneak into their lives and then abusing that friendship and trust.

Recently I have seen this happen to an aged person I know and as well as being disgusted by the abusers behaviour I have also felt saddened for the shame the aged person felt in having this scam found out by family, who then have had to step in and put safety measures in place so the abuse stops. The embarrassment the aged person has described to me around this scenario makes me wonder how many aged people have not told others of what has or is happening to them.

There's a few issues to consider here, 1. how the aged person must feel about how this has happened and 2. how best to deal with such an incident without making the aged person feel worse. Lets all take a moment and think of how we would feel if we were being harassed by some lowlife and had thought that we were doing a good thing for someone which turned out to be a scam instead !!! No one wants to be played by a criminal and no one wants to be chastised by usually well meaning relatives. Family members need to work with the aged person to help them solve the issue and not take away any more of their pride or dignity which has already taken a hit from the scammer. Lastly if you can get services involved like Advocare and/or the police so all avenues of help and safety are covered.

What is elder abuse? | ALRC

Guiding Action on Elder Abuse (compass.info)