ELDER ABUSE POLICY AND PREVENTION STRATEGY NEEDED

Elderly Tasmanians Deserve Better Protection

The Tasmanian Greens today called on Premier and Minister for Social Inclusion David Bartlett to take action on the issue of elder abuse in Tasmania, and heed the call from TasCOSS to develop a whole of government policy on the issue, and to fund a prevention strategy to ensure elderly Tasmanians can feel safe from abuse and neglect.

Greens Health and Human Services spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said elder abuse is a matter of urgent social concern that affects the most vulnerable in our society, and Tasmania is the only Australian state that does not have a policy position on the issue, or a funded prevention strategy.

“Elder abuse in Tasmania has been well documented by Advocacy Tasmania, the Council On The Ageing, the Public Trustee, and TasCOSS, yet we remain the only Australian state without a policy position or prevention strategy,” said Ms O’Connor.

“It is estimated that, right now, there are up to 4000 elderly Tasmanians living in fear of emotional, physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse, and many of these people are living in their own homes when the abuse occurs.”

“This is a nasty crime, committed behind closed doors, and it is compounded in Tasmania by the lack of a policy or prevention strategy.”

“Elderly Tasmanians deserve the same level of protection as the elderly in all other Australian states.”

“Premier David Bartlett must take immediate action to correct this unfair and dangerous situation by implementing a whole of government policy on elder abuse, and funding a prevention strategy,” said Ms O’Connor.
Attached:

“Address abuse faced by older Tasmanians,” TasCOSS, Our Island Our Voices Policy Action Statement,
http://www.ourisland.tascoss.org.au/Link
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Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Health and Human Services Spokesperson