A campaign to highlight the issue of elder abuse launched by the Health Service Executive has been welcomed by Fianna Fáil TD and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Beverley Flynn.
“Elder abuse takes many forms in our society and it may not always be easily recognisable as abuse,” said Deputy Flynn.
The HSE’s awareness campaign is called Open Your Eyes and as part of the campaign it is running a radio and print advertising campaign and an informative leaflet has also been published for older people and their families.
“Elder abuse may involve financial abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse or sexual abuse, or it may arise due to inadequacy of care. Whatever form it may take elder abuse is simply unacceptable,” added Dep Flynn
So while people may think of abuse as only being physical, it also takes the form of theft, fraud, pressure in connection with wills, or threats of abandonment.
It is not something that is commonly discussed at community level, yet the HSE received more than 600 notifications of alleged elder abuse in the first five months of this year alone. Ninety-three per cent of the alleged abuse took place in their own homes.
“It is saddening to think that older people in our communities could be suffering in this way in silence. The aim of this campaign is to highlight for everyone what exactly abusive behaviour is, and to educate older people as to their options should they find themselves in this situation.”
Anyone who is being abused can contact their local GP or public health nurse, the local Garda, their bank or solicitor, or they can call the HSE information line on 1850 24 1850. The line is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm. The HSE has case workers who respond to all cases of elder abuse and all allegations are treated entirely confidentially.
Dep Flynn concluded by urging people who are in contact with older people, whether they are at home, or within a residential or hospital setting, to be vigilant and to look out for signs of abuse. “If you suspect abuse, seek advice, don’t rely on someone else to take care of it,” she advised.
