Tasmanian seniors advocate warns emotional abuse ‘life threatening’ for elderly victims on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
An elder abuse prevention advocate has said emotional abuse can be ‘life threatening’ for elderly victims in a harrowing message on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. THEIR WARNING >>
Tasmania
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An elder abuse prevention advocate has warned the toll of emotional abuse can be life threatening for victims.
Speaking to a crowd dressed in purple in front of Mathers House to raise awareness for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Francene Jacques, 81, said it’s easier to spot physical abuse such as marks or bruises rather than other forms of abuse that takes place.
“Emotional abuse is the one not self apparent, the one that is hidden easily and is so hard to identify,” she said.
“That sort of abuse, emotional, can be life threatening.
“When the abuse gets to the penultimate stage … it actually makes you go to very dark places. Some people finish their lives by their own hand because of this sort of abuse that they can’t tolerate anymore.”
Ms Jacques said elder abuse can start at a much younger age than what is considered as elderly, leaving many with the stigma that abusive behaviour is normal.
“As they get older, (the abuse) is not necessarily going to go away and they are going to probably have to ride with it for most of their life and when they become elderly, they will assume that is the norm and they won’t see it as abuse,” she said.
“Those that are getting older are going to be the next generation of the elders, and they are going to get the same treatment that the elders of today are getting unless we do something about it.”
COTA Tasmania chief executive Craig Chadwick said more work needs to be done to shed light into the complexities of elder abuse.
“Whether it’s financial, sexual, physical, emotional, psychological, there’s a whole gamut of abuse areas which can occur and it needs to be said that not all abuse is intentional,” he said.
“People have good intentions, but sometimes that impinges on people’s rights, whether that’s coercive control, whether that’s control of finances, whether it’s control of day to day living decisions we all make, regardless of age, we still have the right and have the ability to make those decisions.
“The perpetrators of intentional abuse … these are individuals who serve their best interests and in most cases take advantage of people and that is the worst form of abuse.”
Mr Chadwick said many victims of abuse suffer in silence.
“Recent studies have indicated that one in six people nationally over the age of 60 will be victims of elder abuse and only one third of those people affected will actually seek support and professional advice.
“Many people don’t feel that their needs are able to be put out there and that’s wrong. We need to make sure people are able to access the support that they require.”
The Tasmanian Elder Abuse Helpline 1800 441 169 is a confidential service that can provide information on what elder abuse is and what options are available.
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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Originally published as Tasmanian seniors advocate warns emotional abuse ‘life threatening’ for elderly victims on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
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