Invitation: Minister to Shine Light on Elder Abuse

MEDIA ALERT

Monday 1 June 2015

Invitation: Minister to shine light on elder abuse

On Monday 15 June, Martin Foley, Victorian Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing, will light up the Melbourne Town Hall in purple to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).

Seniors Rights Victoria will host this function from 6-8pm in the Portico room of the Melbourne Town Hall (90-120 Swanston St, Melbourne).Other guest speakers are Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley; Seniors Rights Victoria’s Manager,Jenny Blakey; and the comedian Rod Quantock.Includedare drinks, canapes and a performance by musicians from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

“Elder abuse is a critical but under-recognised family violence issue”, said Ms Blakey, “It is very important to shine light on the problem. Elder abuse will only increase in Australia as our population ages”.Seniors Rights Victoria is making a submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

More information about WEAAD may be found on Seniors Rights Victoria’s website: being held around Victoria include yarn-bombing, a tea and trivia day, a ‘purple teapot project’ and several education forums.

Elder abuse is defined as any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust, such as a family member or friend. The abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect. While it is vastly under-reported, it is estimated that up to 10 per cent of older people worldwide experience elder abuse (World Health Organisation).

The latest figures compiled the National Ageing Research Institute of Seniors Rights Victoria data over a two year periodshow that financial abuse and psychological/emotional abuse together are the most common forms of abuse reported by older Victorians (81.82%). Victimsare most likely to be female (72.5%), and the perpetrators are 60% male and 40% female. 92.3% of abuse is perpetrated by persons related to the older person or in a de facto relationship: 66.8% of abuse is perpetrated by a child of the older person.

Older Victorians experiencing elder abuse can get help by calling Seniors Rights Victoria on 1300 368 821 Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 5 pm. The website is Rights Victoria provides information, support, advice and education to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of older people. Services include a Helpline, specialist legal services, short-term support and advocacy for individuals and community and professional education. Seniors Rights Victoria also provides leadership on policy and law reform and works with organisations and groups to raise awareness of elder abuse. Seniors Rights Victoria is supported by the Victorian Government.

ENDS.

To RSVP for the event please email Caitlin Evans at . For more information or interviews please contact Jenny Blakey on (03) 9655 2104 or 0407 329 279.