Elder abuse affects 1 in 6, crowd hears during Hobart Elders Abuse march held by COTA Tasmania
“On Christmas Day they served him pureed food”: A rally in Hobart placed the spotlight on elder abuse ahead of World Elder Abuse Day. Read the shocking statistics.
Tasmania
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Paula and Frances Xiberras’ elderly family member was given just $100 of his own money over the last four years of his life from the aged care home he spent his final years in.
The sisters marched through Hobart with more than 150 others drawing attention to elder abuse as part of the Council for the Ageing (COTA) Tasmania’s Walk Against Elder Abuse ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Saturday.
According to COTA elder abuse may involve physical or sexual abuse, taking an older person’s money or possessions, neglecting them, making threats or stopping their social contacts. Elder abuse is a violation of human rights.
Ms Paula Xiberras said it was important to recognise it is not only family members that can abuse older people but also the organisations charged with protecting them.
“It was admitted in the aged care reform that nursing homes do commit abuse, they do neglect,” she said.
“Why are you always blaming families?” she asked.
The sisters said they had been accused of elder abuse from some institutions while they were attempting to organise the finances of their family member.
“They are making a profit, and they are able to get people in a very vulnerable position,” Ms Paula Xiberras said.
The sister’s family member developed dementia and was put into a home before he had appointed a power of attorney — once he was diagnosed he was no longer legally allowed to make the decision to appoint one.
Ms Frances Xiberras likened modern nursing homes to an “institution” where the person is isolated from friends and family that can advocate for them.
“A person has no agency,” she said.
“And if you have dementia it’s even worse.
“On Christmas Day, they served him pureed food.
“It’s scary, you need support.”
The Hobart march culminated at Mather House where COTA Tasmania CEO Brigid Wilkinson told the crowd dressed in purple the shocking elder abuse statistics.
“Each year, one in six older people experience abuse,” she said.
Public Trustee Tasmania CEO Todd Kennedy said unfortunately these numbers were lower than reality due to a tendency not to report.
Groups marched in both Burnie and Launceston, with bridges and buildings lit up in purple this week to display a commitment to combating elder abuse.
Originally published as Elder abuse affects 1 in 6, crowd hears during Hobart Elders Abuse march held by COTA Tasmania
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