Elder Abuse & Neglect

The Elder Abuse Response Service is provided by Age Concern Canterbury. It aims to improve the quality of life for older people in abusive situations, and to prevent abuse by providing information, education programmes, advocacy and support.

If you have concerns about Elder Abuse, the way you or someone you know is being treated, spoken to or cared for, or if you are concerned about how money is spent and property is being used, we offer a free and confidential service to help.

What is Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse could be psychological, financial, physical, institutional, neglect, or sexual.

Our Elder Abuse Response Service (EARS) is a free and confidential service employing professional staff to work with older people and their carers, providing support and advocacy so that older people can be happy, healthy, and safe.  

We also provide professional development sessions for those working with older people and awareness talks to interested people.

If you feel something is not right… Tell someone!

It is important to speak out if you think someone is being abused or you’re worried about them. You may be uncomfortable reporting the abuse, especially if the abuser is someone you know, but the safety and wellbeing of the older person is the most important consideration.

If you have concerns about the way you or someone you know is being treated, spoken to, or cared for, or if you are concerned about how money is spent and property is being used, we offer a free and confidential service to help.

We can help by

• Listening and discussing problems relating to abuse and neglect.
• Assisting older people / kaumātua to improve their quality of life
• Offering options that may include referral to other professional agencies.
• Supporting informed choices
• Working with a resource team to assist victims, caregivers, and their families.
• Coordinating intervention services when abuse or neglect is identified
• Working collaboratively with many support agencies across the region including the police, social workers, home-based support services, lawyers and government agencies.

Findings from Overseas Research

Elder abuse and neglect is a universal problem, it is not limited to any one gender, religion, culture, ethnic or income group.

The abused party may:

• Be dependent on the abuser for care and assistance
• Suffer from more than one type of abuse
• Be reluctant to admit that their abuser is a loved one
• Be fearful of reporting abuse, thinking it could lead to further abuse, rest home placement or total abandonment

The abuser may:

• Be a health or home support worker
• Be a family member (adult, child, spouse or other relative)
• Be a friend
• Have an alcohol or substance abuse problem
• Be frustrated or isolated

The abuse:

• It can happen anywhere but the most common places are at home or in residential or hospital care
• It could be an intentional or unintentional action by anyone
• It could be caused by economic or emotional dependence of either the victim or the abuser
• It could be accepted by the family and society as a way of life

Examples of Abuse

Mr Johnson is 78 years old and lives with his son, who is unemployed. The son is in need of money and cashes his father’s superannuation for his personal use.

Mrs Wilson is 80 years old. She sold her house and gifted her son the proceeds from the sale. In return her son offered her accommodation to live in his home. The house is cramped. Mrs Johnson does not get on well with her daughter-in-law who ignores her or yells at her. The children sometimes kick her.

Some older people live with a constant dread of loneliness, confusion and neglect. Physical, mental, financial or sexual abuse can make life intolerable.