World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
This week is Elder Abuse Awareness Week
Statistics show more than three quarters of alleged abusers are family members.
Thousands of older New Zealanders are being financially, psychologically and physically abused by their own adult children or grandchildren. Age Concern New Zealand receives more than 2,000 referrals of elder abuse every year. That's 8 per week. It's not OK and it needs to stop.
What can you do to prevent elder abuse?
Age Concern provides free and confidential Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services in our region. These services employ professional staff to work with older people and their carers, providing support and advocacy so that older people can be happy, healthy and safe.
The services also raise awareness of elder abuse by providing education for aged care workers, community groups, families and anyone with an interest in the wellbeing of older people.
For more information visit www.ageconcern.org.nz