House of Assembly: Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Contents

Elder Abuse

In reply to Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (27 July 2017). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I have been advised:

1. Between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017, 45 callers or (18.67%) identified as older people experiencing abuse (out of 241 calls during this period). The highest proportion of callers (43.57%) identify as family members of people experiencing elder abuse.

2. The number and percentage of callers, who identified as being third parties between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017, are set out in the table below:

Caller Type & Total calls Total %
Self, Older Person (see qu. 1 above) 45 18.67%
Family Member 105 43.57%
Friend 31 12.86%
Unpaid Carer* 2 0.83%
Neighbour/ Acquaintance 8 3.33%
Service Provider 41 17.00%
Alleged Abuser 3 1.25%
Other 4 1.66%
Unknown 2 0.83%
TOTAL CALLS 241 100%

*NOTE: 'Carer' was recorded in caller type from June 2017 due to the Stop Elder Abuse campaign focus on carers.


3. The types of alleged abuse identified by callers, between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017, are set out in the table below:

Types of abuse* Total %
Financial / material 146 31.95%
Misuse of Power of Attorney 21 4.60%
Psychological / emotional 167 36.54%
Physical 33 7.22%
Sexual 4 0.88%
Social 24 5.25%
Neglect 52 11.38%
Reportable Assault 1 0.22%
Self-neglect 0 0%
Scam 3 0.65%
Other 6 1.31%

*NOTE: There may be more than one type of alleged abuse identified per call.