Take the Time...Value Older People
15 June 2009
Take the Time...Value Older People is the title of a new booklet about elder abuse, produced by the It's not OK Campaign and Age Concern.
The booklet, gives basic information about what elder abuse is and some examples of common ways that older people are abused, as well as details of where to go for help.
Elder abuse often goes undetected because people don't know how to recognise the signs. It is also under-reported in the news media, an audit commissioned by the It's not Ok Campaign found.
The booklet is the third in a series produced by the Campaign on particular aspects of family violence. The first was about men's violence in families, titled Take a Look... The second was about how family violence affects children titled Protecting Children is Everyone's Business.
The booklet defines elder abuse as:
It's actions which harm and distress older people
It's lack of care, or neglect, by people close to an older person.
It's not just physical violence or using force like pushing, slapping -
- It's using older people's money without consent
- It's controlling who they see, who they talk to, where they go
- It's taking decisions out of their hands
- It's treating them like children
- It's name calling and put downs
- It's keeping them at home, denying them the care they need
- It's locking them in their room so they don't wander.
Elder abuse is a universal problem, it is not limited to any one gender, religion, cultural, ethnic or income group.
Take the time ...Value older people is being released to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 15 June.
