HSE received 1,870 referrals regarding suspected elder abuse in 2009 – a slight increase on the figures for 2008, writes CARL O'BRIEN
CLOSE RELATIVES such as sons or daughters were deemed responsible for the majority of suspected abuse cases against older people last year.
The Health Service Executive (HSE)received a total of 1,870 referrals regarding suspected elder abuse or neglect during 2009, a slight increase over the previous year.
Despite a major focus on standards of care in nursing homes in recent years, these settings account for a very small proportion of referrals.
In more than half of cases, the alleged abuser and victim were living together. The figures indicate that those with the closest relationship to the older person posed the greatest risk. The most likely alleged perpetrators were sons/daughters (46 per cent), other relatives (20 per cent) and partners/ spouses (18 per cent).
Research indicates that elder abuse is significantly under-reported and the real scale of abuse is likely to be significantly higher.
Paschal Moynihan, the HSE’s specialist in services for older persons, said a poor understanding combined with an acceptance of elder abuse in Ireland, as well as a fear of reporting, were among the factors in under-reporting.
The latest figures are contained in a HSE report published today and are based on referrals by public health nurses, as well as hospitals, HSE staff and family members.
Of the total number of referrals, some 435 cases involved self-neglect by the older person. This can range from refusing to take medication or failing to eat properly to not washing or changing clothes, hoarding and even living without basic necessities such as electricity.
The remaining 1,435 cases, psychological abuse was the most common type of abuse reported (34 per cent), followed by financial abuse (22 per cent), neglect (20 per cent) and physical abuse (14 per cent). Close relatives were most likely to be involved in cases of alleged physical abuse (72 per cent), and less likely to be involved in alleged financial abuse (34 per cent).
Responding to the report’s findings, the Minister of State for Older People Áine Brady said significant progress has been made in recent years especially the HSE’s Elder Abuse Service, a dedicated and unified service, backed up by a research centre in UCD. “Using international comparisons we would expect the numbers being referred to the service to increase,” she said. “An increase in referrals shows that people are beginning to trust the service and that is a good thing.”
Elder abuse is considered by the HSE to involve an act, or lack of action, which causes harm or distress to an older person or which violates their human rights.
Anyone who is being abused or is concerned about abuse should talk to someone they trust or contact the HSE Information Line on 1850 24 1850
The report, HSE Elder Abuse Services 2009, is available at hse.ie