Who is Advocare

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INTRODUCTION TO ELDER ABUSE
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HOW PREVALENT IS ELDER ABUSE? Westhorpe, Cape,
Sebastian and Belford (1997) estimated that
between 2 and 5 of older adults in Australia
are being abused. Therefore there could be
between 5,940-14,852 older adults in WA
experiencing abuse.
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• EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO
• Freedom
• Make their own choices
• Take risks
• Live without fear
• Not be intimidated
• Be treated with respect
• Privacy dignity respected
• Not be exploited
• Understand assert their rights
• Receive support

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DEFINITION OF ELDER ABUSE Any act occurring
within a relationship where there is an
implication of trust, which results in harm to an
older person

Abuse can be

• Social

• Psychological

• Financial

• Physical

• Neglect

• Sexual

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Types of Abuse(Advocare 2007-08)
Financial
Physical
Psychological
Sexual
Social
Neglect
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Perpetrator and Victim Relationship (Advocare
2007-08)
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• Other facts about elder abuse
• Women are more likely than men to experience
  elder abuse
• Most older adults experiencing elder abuse live
  in their own homes
• Those aged over 75 are the most vulnerable
• Approximately 85 of perpetrators are family
  members
• Dependency for both the older person as well as
  the alleged perpetrator, and family conflict are
  the major risk factors

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• POSSIBLE SIGNS OF ELDER ABUSE
• The older adult
• Bruising and other physical injuries
• Cant pay debts/has no money
• Shows signs of stress/depression
• Is not eating (weight-loss), not sleeping
• Not socially interacting
• Appears afraid
• Tells you they are being abused
• Another person
• Seen to verbally or physically abuse
• Speaks for the older adult
• Talks about not being able to cope as a carer

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Older adults may not seek support because they-

• dont know their rights

• blame themselves
• are influenced by
• social/religious
• beliefs
• are socially isolated
• are not physically able
• dont know advocacy
• is available
• have a decision
• making disability

• dont recognise the
• circumstances as
• abuse
• think nothing will
• change
• think they wont be
• believed
• fear possible
• consequences
• are ashamed
• embarrassed

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Informal
Informal
Informal
Formal
Formal
Formal
Protective
Protective
Protective
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ELDER ABUSE IN THE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY
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• Mistreatment of older people
• Cultural obligation
• Financial mistreatment
• Alcohol and drug misuse
• Neglect
• Overcrowding
• Erosion of respect
• Responding

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1/190 Abernethy Rd Belmont WA 6104
9479 7566 1800 655 566 (free call
for country callers)
rights_at_advocare.org.au
Geraldton
Lotteries House 180
Marine Terrace
Geraldton WA 6530
08 9964 4887 0400
644 887
beverleyh_at_advocare.org.au
www.advocare.org.au