Media release – Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), 11 February 2022
NATIONAL ELDER ABUSE CONFERENCE TO SET AGED CARE AGENDA
The scourge of older person abuse will be put in the spotlight next week at the National Elder Abuse Conference 2022 in Tasmania.
The two-day conference is the only annual conference specifically addressing the issue of older person abuse in Australia.
Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) CEO, Craig Gear, said the conference is a critically important event on the calendar for the aged care sector.
“A lot has happened over the past year in the aged care sector and this conference is crucial to putting older person abuse in the spotlight and discussing what needs to happen to address it,” Mr Gear said.
“There will be no shortage of issues to discuss, including the government’s response to the Royal Commission, some good progress with the Serious Incident Response Scheme, and the yet-to-be-developed Rights Based Aged Care Act.
“We also note the funding committed in last year’s MYEFO from the Federal Government specifically targeted at elder abuse, including funding to implement the Serious Incident Response Scheme and to continue the telephone line National Knowledge Centre Hub.
“Samantha Edmonds, OPAN Manager Policy and Systemic Advocacy, will be facilitating a panel discussion that dives into some these matters, and we will get to the core of what still needs to be done by both the government and the aged care sector.”
OPAN Education Specialist, Helen Walker, will also deliver a presentation on the development and implementation of the successful Abuse of the Older Person: eLearning Program for Health and Aged Care Professionals.
Ms Walker will explore the important role that health and aged care professionals play in identifying signs of abuse and the support required through that process.
Jenny Blakey, Co-Chair of Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA), a conference host along with COTA Tasmania, notes the importance of this year’s conference following the recent release of the National Prevalence Study into elder abuse and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety,
“The conference will highlight the urgent actions required to stop the abuse of older Australians,” Ms Blakey said.
“The Prevalence Study reported that elder abuse is far worse than those of us in the sector had anticipated, up from 10% to 15%, and that a shocking two-thirds of people experiencing abuse don’t seek help at all. This must change. Action is an absolute necessity.
“The issues, ideas and challenges raised during national elder abuse conference will shape conversation, drive change and encourage all in attendance to be voices for action.”
OPAN will have an exhibition booth at the conference for attendees to speak with OPAN representatives about the organisation’s role in protecting the rights of older people.
In addition to other advocacy efforts, OPAN currently runs the following initiatives to address elder abuse:
- Ready To Listen: Prevention of sexual assault in residential aged care – with an estimated 50 sexual assaults in residential aged care facilities each week, this program aims to prevent as many sexual assaults as possible in residential aged care services through training staff, delivered in partnership with Celebrate Ageing and the Older Women’s Network NSW.
- Have you noticed something? – an education campaign including videos and brochures designed to help older people, their families and representatives to spot potential signs of elder abuse and report it through the right channels.
The National Elder Abuse Conference is taking place in Hobart, Tasmania, on 14-15 February.
For more information, visit: www.opan.org.au. For information or support regarding aged care, please call the Older Persons Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600.
