What is elder abuse?
Elder abuse is a form of family violence. The World Health Organisation defines elder abuse as “a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person”.
Elder abuse can include financial, psychological, social, physical and sexual abuse and neglect. It is common for older people to experience at least two types of abuse at any one time.
How is Peninsula Health responding to the abuse of older people?
Peninsula Health recognises elder abuse as a form of family violence.
Our Social Work department has specialist workers available to provide expert advice across Peninsula Health and support to patients. Patients, family members and supporters can ask to speak with a social worker.
Training, programs and resources are available to all staff to support a sensitive response to family violence, including elder abuse.
Community service providers can contact the Elder Abuse Liaison Officer for secondary consultation.
Further information about Peninsula Health’s response to elder abuse can be found in the dropdown boxes below.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2022
15 June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).
It is an important date on the calendar each year, raising awareness of elder abuse – one of the worst types of ageism and inequality in our society.
To promote WEAAD, Respect Victoria has launched the Respect Older People Call it Out campaign addressing the impact of discrimination particularly ageism as a driver of elder abuse.
Peninsula Health’s Elder Abuse Liaison Officer
Peninsula Health’s Elder Abuse Liaison Officer, Sue Leake, provides secondary consultation to any service providers across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula (both within and external to Peninsula Health) who are concerned about, or suspect, instances of elder abuse. This includes GPs, Allied Health, any community aged care service provider or family violence worker.
For Elder Abuse Secondary Consultation, please contact:
Sue Leake – Elder Abuse Liaison Officer
Mon – Fri 8.00am to 4.30pm
phone. 0466 781 205
email. Elderabuseenquiries@phcn.vic.gov.au
The Integrated Model of Care for Responding to Suspected Elder Abuse (IMOC)
Peninsula Health is one of five Integrated Model of Care for Responding to Suspected Elder Abuse (IMOC) trial sites across the state.
The IMOC is a Victorian government-funded pilot project implemented in response to the Royal Commission into Family Violence. It enables health services to provide specialist support to older people, their carers and their families, to address suspected elder abuse.
There are four key components of the IMOC:
- Secondary Consultation
- Family Mediation and Counselling
- Workforce Training
- Prevention
Useful resources and contact details
- In an emergency, call 000
- For 24 hour support, contact 1800 Respect or Safe Steps (1800 015 188)
- Better Place Australia– provides case work support to older people experiencing conflict relating to family or carers in their lives, to address and prevent abuse. Self-referral or via a service provider. 1800 639 523
- Respecting Seniors Network– a group of committed individuals and organisations in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula area, working together to prevent elder abuse. Join up!
- Seniors Rights Victoria – telephone advice, advocacy & free legal advice 1300 368 821 10am-5pm Mon – Fri
- Elder Law Service – at Peninsula Community Legal Service. To make an appointment call PCLC on 9783 3600 or email pclc@pclc.org.au
- Orange Door– specialist family violence support (9am – 5pm | 1800 319 353
- Rainbow Door– specialist family violence support for LGBTIQA+ (10am – 6pm | 1800 729 367)
- InTouch – state-wide specialist family violence service for people for migrant and refugee backgrounds (9.30-4.30pm 1800 755 988)
- Bouverie Elder Abuse Training for professionals
- Australian Human Rights Commission page on Elder Abuse
- Safe+Equal – Victorian peak body for specialist family violence services – Are you safe at home?
- COMPASS National website with information and resources on elder abuse
Videos
- Watch Inheritance: Not an Entitlement campaign videos about financial abuse.
- Click here to watch Respecting Seniors videos.