Preventing Elder Abuse - Lifeline Aotearoa

Preventing Elder Abuse We are exposed to many stories about abuse in our communities, but those that report violence against the elderly are among the more disturbing and upsetting. Invariably, such a story will report an attack on an elderly person that has resulted in significant mental and/or physical suffering, even death. Over recent years there have been a number of these stories in the mainstream media: the 2008 murder in Opotiki of John Rowe (a 78 year old retired teacher) by two teenagers who subsequently received 17 year prison terms, and the brutal beating of Peter Lawrence, aged 74, in Dobson near Greymouth are two examples. Such stories are harrowing because they communicate the enormous impact of violence on the lives of individual elderly people - these were particularly upsetting cases because on both occasions the victim was known to the perpetrator of the violence. Yet, issues of violence and abuse toward elders form part of broad concerns about the status of the elderly in our families and communities. In an effort to address some of these broad concerns, government and non-government organizations have focused on how to improve elders' wellbeing. For example, the umbrella organization ‘Age Concern New Zealand’ has addressed the vulnerabilities of the elderly and the high level of fear among them about crime and violence. First established in 1948, Age Concern is the national office representing a network of Councils based in all major cities and many provincial centres. It seeks ‘to promote the rights, wellbeing and quality of life of older people, koroua and kuia’ and ‘advocate nationally and internationally on policy and issues relevant to older people and ageing’ (www.ageconcern.org.nz). Primarily, Age Concern aims to improve the elderly’s access to information about services available to them. Elder abuse is, however, one of their key platforms. Their work in this area includes statistical and analytical studies with much of their data drawn from the Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services that are offered through their local offices. In an Age Concern study of elder abuse and neglect it was found that the majority of abusers (70%) are family/whanau members, and that they are most commonly sons or daughters (40%). The most frequent forms of abuse are psychological and financial. Also, family violence continues to occur even for older people living in residential care (http://www.ageconcern.org.nz/safety/elderabuse/ how-common-elder-abuse). Importantly, Age Concern has worked to establish connections between elder abuse and the broader attitudes and beliefs about the elderly in society. They argue that attitudes toward elderly people are informed by social and cultural beliefs and that such beliefs need to be challenged if the rates of abuse are to diminish. Building on Age Concern’s work in the area, a report for the Families Commission entitled ‘Elder Abuse and Neglect: exploration of risk and protective factors’ was released in 2008. This report uses an ‘ecological model’ to identify and analyze the issues. The model, through locating risk and protective factors at a number of different societal levels (including those of the individual, families, institutions, communities and society) offers a way of thinking about and understanding the relationships that individual elderly people have within their different environments. Through applying the model, the authors found that risk factors at the individual level (those factors which increase the likelihood an elderly person will experience abuse) include isolation, poor physical health, mental competency, living arrangements, ongoing partner violence, personal characteristics and personal shame. At the community level the risk factors include limited availability of respite care and other services, lack of volunteers and interpreters and inadequate monitoring and slow response by agencies. Factors that were found to protect an elderly person against the likelihood of abuse include caring relatives (family level) and a society that treats old people with respect and supports public understanding of the ageing process (society level). An Ecological Model (from K. Peri et al. ‘Elder Abuse and Neglect: exploration of risk and protective factors’, Families Commission, 2008, based on Krug) A number of themes and strategies for preventing abuse of the elderly emerge from the report. The promotion of positive images of elderly people is suggested as one way that a community can develop a culture of respect for older people. This might include acknowledgement of the contributions the elderly make, particularly in their roles as caregivers to grandchildren. The development of ‘strong and healthy families’ is another important theme in the report. Respect in all family relationships is emphasised as a healthy foundation to good relationships with the elderly. The report provides comprehensive direction, at all levels of the social spectrum, for preventing violence and abuse of the elderly. It makes an important contribution toaddressing these significant problems.