Seniors advocates: Government approach to elder abuse 'too little, too late'

An advocate for senior citizens warns a slow approach to combatting elderly abuse will see more people slip through the cracks.

Advocare chief executive and an Alliance for the Prevention of Elder Abuse WA chairwoman Diedre Timms said the government was taking too long to reform legislation protecting older people from mistreatment after the first-ever WA elder abuse summit was held in June.

A new report into elderly abuse has revealed the shocking extent of the problem in Western Australia.
Photo: Supplied

"The summit, and report due next year, is a good start but we need action and funding right now," Ms Timms said.

"We are dealing with people who are in their 80s and 90s and do not have time for your data or statistics.

"They will slip through the cracks if they have to wait till next year to receive the help they need."

Earlier this year the summit brought more than 40 stakeholders together to help develop policy to prepare its submission to the National Plan to Combat Elder Abuse.

The results of the summit were included with a report of as parliamentary inquiry into elder abuse tabled in parliament on Friday.

The report is likely to be presented to federal parliament in the first half of 2019.

It found an estimated 75,000 Western Australians could be victims of elder abuse.

Financial and psychological abuse makes up the majority of reported cases in WA.

The report found many of the abused and abusers weren’t aware that the behaviour in questions could be an offence.

Seniors Minister Mick Murray said every piece of work undertaken in this area raised the community's awareness of this type of abuse, helping people to identify when someone needed help.

"The report will help shine further light on what is often a silent scourge, and help the wider community to understand what elder abuse is and how to identify, report and ultimately prevent it," he said.

Elder abuse is defined as any action in a relationship of trust that causes harm or distress to an older person.

It could be financial abuse or fraud, emotional or psychological torment, neglect, social isolation, or physical or other exploitation.

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Seniors advocates: Government approach to elder abuse 'too little, too late'