Walk Against Elder Abuse in Launceston (15/6/2024)

Council on the Ageing Tasmania hosted walks across the state in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Video by Aaron Smith (15/6/2024)

Transcript

00:00Potentially up to 1 in 5 older people may be experiencing elder abuse.

00:06When we talk about elder abuse, it could be physical, financial, sexual,

00:15but when you start looking at psychological, emotional abuse,

00:19there's that potential there for it to be a much larger number than 1 in 5.

00:26The way we treat each other, the way we talk to each other,

00:31a lot of people may not think that what they're doing is actually elder abuse,

00:39when in actual fact it could be.

00:41Most of the situations that come through the helpline

00:48are to do with close family members,

00:51sons and daughters, accounting for the majority of them,

00:55and sometimes other close people who are within a relationship of trust

01:02with that older person.

01:03But yeah, family certainly makes up for a large number of those cases.

01:10Advocacy Tasmania operates the Tasmanian Elder Abuse Helpline

01:15on behalf of the Tasmanian Government,

01:17where they're able to provide information and options to a caller

01:23who calls the helpline.

01:24And if the elder person calls the helpline,

01:27they can also provide active referrals for that person.