The Queensland Police Service has urged neighbours and family friends to report suspicions of elder abuse to help address the most under-represented aspect of domestic violence.
“If no one speaks up, we can’t act,” said acting senior sergeant Kerry McKay, who has been appointed to a newly-created elder abuse project within the Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons’ Unit.
“We know that many victims of elder abuse themselves fear speaking out. They need someone to do that for them.”
With nearly 30 years in policing, 13 of those in domestic violence, senior sergeant McKay said she thought she had seen and heard everything.
Just weeks into her 12-month assignment, she’s re-evaluating that thought. “I have been mortified,” she told The Senior.
“The latter years are supposed to be golden. How sad if you spend your days fearing retaliation from speaking out against physical, psychological or financial abuse because it involves the people you trust and love most.
“Policing has played a very small part in addressing elder abuse. It is without a doubt very much under-reported.”
Statistics obtained by The Senior show less than 1 per cent of 229,175 domestic violence orders executed in Queensland in 2015 sought to protect a person aged 75 or older.
Inclusion in Dame Quentin Bryce’s Not Now Not Ever report into domestic violence, the government’s response to that, and the parliamentary inquiry into financial vulnerability of older people is believed to have fuelled a record number of enquiries to the Elder Abuse Prevention Hotline so far this year.
Senior sergeant McKay said police and the general community had to better understand the dynamics of elder abuse in order to address it.
“Older people have tended to think of their situation as a family issue. They haven’t wanted to bring the police in because of possible repercussions from family members.
“And most don’t see what’s happening to them as violence. It’s become their norm.
“Those affected by elder abuse are, typically, isolated. They may not drive, they may live with family, they may not even have access to a phone.They need a champion.
Elder Abuse Prevention Hotline, 1300-651-192; DV Connect 1800-811-811.