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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1443 ..

MR RUGENDYKE (continuing):

the elderly. It also means that there is more potential for elder abuse, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we are prepared to cope with the issues before they spiral out of control.

At this time I believe the Standing Committee on Health and Community Care is well placed to investigate the prevalence of elder abuse and the efficacy of reporting, resolution and support mechanisms for elder abuse issues.

The evidence presented to me is that elder abuse is on the increase and there are gaps in the service provision. It has been suggested that one of the gaps in the ACT is that there are no crisis accommodation facilities for aged people. Older people do not feel comfortable or at ease entering crisis refuges with younger generations where the personal problems are of a totally foreign nature. Another complaint is a lack of education for aged care workers and the absence of minimum standards for staff education and for levels of care.

Then there is the growing prevalence of emotional blackmail that is inflicted on seniors by their own family in respect of financial abuse. There are cases where children or other members of the family claim to have power of attorney when they do not. There are instances where children take money out of accounts but the parent fails to act because they feel dependent upon the relationship. The elderly are an extremely vulnerable section of the community, and I believe that this inquiry will help us to determine whether we have adequate protection and support in place.

Research conducted in Australia by the Institute of Criminology indicates that older people are more likely to be victims of financial abuse than predatory crime. A paper by the Institute of Criminology titled "Abuse of Older People: Crime or Family Dynamics" reported that about 4.6 per cent of older people are victims of abuse, mostly by family members and those who are in a duty of care relationship with the victim.

The paper recommended that the way forward is to collect data to identify the extent of the problem and risk factors to permit better intervention. The paper suggests that the alternative for victims is institutionalised care, an alternative that older people desire least. It is also suggested that it is likely that the lack of alternatives for care prevents abused older people from seeking help. It is important that we determine as soon as possible the impact of abuse of older people on their long-term quality of life.

The types of case examples that have been identified in elder abuse research include, firstly, an 86-year-old man who had lived alone before becoming ill. He moved in with his extended family until recovery. As he improved he was perceived to be a nuisance and was shut in his room in the early evening. He was assaulted and sustained severe bruising.

Another involves a 75-year-old widow who lived alone in her own home and developed moderate dementia. Her grandson moved in with her, promising that he would help her with her daily tasks. Other family members became suspicious that he was financially exploiting her and applied to have the Public Guardian appointed to manage her family affairs. Other family members then moved in with her, but on a number of occasions she was found lying on the floor after a fall while family members were in the house.

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