Every year, 1 in 6 people aged 60 years and over experience some form of abuse. This abuse leads to severe physical, mental, financial, and social consequences.
The abuse of older people, also known as elder abuse, is defined by the World Health Organisation as ‘a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. This type of violence constitutes a violation of human rights and includes physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse, financial and material abuse, abandonment, neglect and serious loss of dignity and respect’.
In 2020, The Ageing and Disability Commission received 84 reports related to allegations or concerns of abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older person or adult with disability in Western NSW (excluding Dubbo).
83% of reports received in the region are related to an older person.
Abuse of older people is expected to increase given the rapidly ageing population.
To raise awareness of elder abuse in the region, the Bathurst Regional Community Safety Committee distributed a wellbeing checklist and reporting information to all households and local service providers. Additional copies of this document are available at Bathurst Library and The Neighbourhood Centre.
View the wellbeing checklist here....(PDF, 452KB)
View more statistics regarding abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older person or adult with disability in Western NSW here....(PDF, 4MB)
If you have concerns about your situation, or the wellbeing of someone you know, call the NSW Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline on 1800 628 221 (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday).