Elder Abuse Awareness Day – 15 June

The Families Commission is concerned by a new study that has examined the neglect of 137 elderly people by their families or carers.

The Age Concern study showed that family members were most commonly responsible for the neglect – using a range of deliberate and passive acts from failing to provide enough food through to misuse of the elderly person's assets or money.

The research findings have been released to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (15 June).

Families Commission Chief Commissioner Rajen Prasad says "Neglect of the elderly is a form of family violence and cannot be tolerated. It is very disturbing to see in this report that some family members are starving their elderly relatives, selling their homes out from under them, or are simply unable to cope with the level of care that is needed."

A national campaign to change attitudes and behaviours toward family violence is due to be launched soon. The campaign, led by the Families Commission and the Ministry of Social Development, will run over several years and will include a focus on elder abuse and neglect.

"This form of family violence is being increasingly recognised as a problem in New Zealand affecting an estimated 3-10 percent of elderly people," said Dr Prasad.

In recognition of the issue, the Families Commission has research underway to identify risk and protective factors for elder abuse and neglect in New Zealand. This work will improve our understanding of these factors and allow better prediction of situations where abuse and neglect may occur.

The research findings will help inform both prevention initiatives and intervention services, including the development of screening tools.