sa Our 600,000 victims a "hidden" problem

Lower socio-economic status, being single, separated or divorced, renting, owning a house with a debt against it and poor physical or psychological health all increase the risk of abuse.

The National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study, conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, found the most common form of abuse was psychological followed by neglect, financial and physical abuse. While sexual abuse was the least prevalent at 1 per cent, it still accounted for a staggering 39,500 cases in a 12-month period.

The findings were based on the Survey of Older People (SOP) - 7000 people aged 65 or older living in the community. It did not cover people who live in aged care or could not participate in the survey due to cognitive decline. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety estimated the prevalence of abuse in aged care settings at 39.2 per cent.

Report co-author, AIFS Deputy Director of Research, Rae Kaspiew, said the findings reveal a significant hidden problem in Australia.

"That only a third of victims are seeking help from a third party is a real concern. When abuse remains hidden, this creates the conditions for the abuse to continue."

The study found that perpetrators were mostly family members, particularly adult children. Friends, neighbours, and acquaintances were also cited as commonly responsible.

The research reports the most frequent action taken to stop the abuse involves the victim speaking directly to the perpetrator or breaking contact with or avoiding the perpetrator.

"Family dynamics can make abuse difficult to address. For example, when the abuse is perpetrated by an adult child, the older person may be reluctant to expose the abuse to avoid losing contact with other family members such as grandchildren," said Dr Kaspiew. When victims do seek help or advice it is usually from family, friends and GPs or nurses.

"It's important that we do everything we can to reduce the abuse and its impacts," said Dr Kaspiew.

"Evidence tells us we can do this by introducing strategies to reduce the vulnerability of older people to abuse, developing greater measures to raise awareness of elder abuse and the services available to help, as well as improved screening for and assessment of situations where elder abuse may be occurring," she said.