Most unsafe areas for older Victorians living in nursing homes revealed

Elderly residents of nursing homes are most likely to be victims of theft than any other type of crime. Search to find out how unsafe aged care homes in your area are.

The suburbs where more crimes occur in nursing homes have been revealed.

Older Victorians living in nursing homes in Monash were the biggest victims of crime in the last year, followed by aged care residents in Geelong, Dandenong and Bendigo.

In the year to March 2023, aged care centres saw more thefts than any other type of crime, according to recent data from the Crime Statistics Agency Victoria.

Common assaults came next, followed by crime against the person, non-aggravated burglary and criminal damage.

The statistics show crime in nursing homes is at the lowest rate in five years, dropping by 29.8 per cent from 2020, 12.4 per cent from 2021, and 17.3 per cent from 2022.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria chief executive Chris Potaris said it was deeply concerning any crime was occurring within Victorian aged care homes.

Seniors Rights Victoria chief executive Chris Potaris.

“We need to support older Victorians to age well, and those who enter residential aged care are amongst the more vulnerable cohort of our community,” he said.

“It is not acceptable that they have been victims of crime in the place they live, where they are meant to be the safest. This hurts their mental health, especially if a paid caregiver or family member has committed this crime.”

Seniors Rights Victoria, a critical statewide service dedicated to responding to elder abuse, saw a drastic rise in demand, with answered calls increasing by 50 per cent in 2022-23 compared to the previous year.

A total of 143 theft-related offences were recorded in Victorian nursing homes in 2023, compared to 118 the previous year.

Common assaults recorded within nursing homes were 102 offences, a decrease from 166 the previous year.

There were 63 reports of other crimes against the person in 2023, compared to 73 the previous year.

A Victoria Police spokesman said it was rare for crimes to occur within nursing homes.

“Of all crimes committed in residential locations, just 0.2 per cent occurred within a nursing home,” he said.

Mr Potaris said everyone needed to be vigilant regarding elder abuse or crime against older Victorians in aged care facilities.

“Not all crime against older people constitutes elder abuse; however, the two are interlinked,” he said.

“Whether you are a family member, friend or paid caregiver, it is incumbent on those around older Victorians to support them when crime or abuse occurs.

“We must ensure that support is available for older Victorians facing crime or elder abuse. Older Victorians must have access to sustainably funded elder abuse response services to support them in their hour of need.”