Some cases of abuse of older people in recent years, which have come to the attention of hospitals:
An 83-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a medical condition and, during treatment, told the doctor she was afraid to go home to her son, who was a heavy drinker. Her daughter said the son was verbally abusive to the mother and occasionally pushed her. The mother told the hospital she was now terrified because on one occasion her son had approached her holding his hands in such a position that she felt he was going to choke her but pulled away at the last minute. She was admitted to long-term care.
Another 83-year-old woman told her family that she had been sexually abused by a son who lived in the area. Gardai investigated and reported that he was very disturbed and violent and a source of fear in the community. A barring order was made against him.
A 70-year-old woman with severe dementia was admitted to a hospital with very bad pressure sores, malnourishment, dehydration and weight loss. She lived with her husband and son, both heavy drinkers. The husband subjected her to mental cruelty, refused to allow anyone to help in the house and left her alone while he went out drinking all day. She was admitted to long-term care.
An 86-year-old woman was subjected to verbal abuse by a son who stole her money to buy drugs. She got rid of him through a barring order and another son came to "mind" her. He terrorised her, on one occasion kicking a hole in a wall in a temper, and she believed he intended to kill her. When she was hospitalised with kidney failure she was taken into long-term care. The family - who would lose her pension - threatened to remove her but relented when the hospital said it would have her made a ward of court if they did so.