Elder abuse prevention

With respect to age - 2009
Victorian Government practice guidelines for health services and community agencies

The abuse of older people is not a new social problem, and there is no evidence overall that indicates abusive situations are becoming more prevalent.

Abuse involving older people is a complex social problem which requires equally careful and considered responses.

Many health and community care workers involved with older people encounter abusive situations. Circumstances surrounding abuse may raise difficult legal, ethical and practice challenges.

The Department of Human Services has updated its 1995 elder abuse publication by launching With respect to age - 2009, Victorian Government practice guidelines for health services and community agencies for the prevention of elder abuse.

With respect to age – 2009 has broad multi sector and multi discipline application providing practical guidance for managers, workers and practitioners in health services and community agencies. The guide:

• is presented in the context of the Victorian Government elder abuse prevention strategy

• suggests how to develop or review service or agency policies and procedures to respond to suspicion or allegation of elder abuse

• supports the development and review of local interagency elder abuse protocols enabling cooperation between organisations when they respond to a case of elder abuse at the local level

• provides a range of resources to strengthen response capacity.

With respect to age – 2009 targets workers supporting older people in:

• health services such as hospitals, including emergency departments, rehabilitation, sub-acute and community health services including nursing, allied health and counselling services provided in the home and other community settings

• community agencies such as local government, Victoria Police, not-for-profit organisations and private organisations including those who provide:
  
  
  • Home and Community Care (HACC) services
  
  
  
  • Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs)
  
  
  
  • Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) packages
  
  
  
  • Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD) packages
  
  
  
  • respite and carers services
  
  
  
  • mental health services for older people
  
  
  
  • community legal aid services
  
  
  
  • family violence support services
  
  
  
  • services supporting older Aboriginal people
  
  
  
  • services supporting people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  
  
  
  • policing services.

The Department of Human Services has contracted the provision of 45 Information Sessions between July and September 2009 for workers in health services and community agencies who work with older people to support the roll out of the guide. Refer to the Australian Healthcare Associates website or telephone 1300 788 667 for registration information.

How to obtain hard copies of With respect to age - 2009

Hard copies of With respect to age - 2009 may be obtained from the DHS appointed distribution centre, Warehousing Fulfilment Distribution Solutions (WFDS), via email to Laura Tavian: ltavian@wfds.com.au providing details of the quantity you require and address for delivery.

The Victorian Government has committed practical assistance of $5.9 million over four years for a range of measures to support the safety, security and dignity of older people. The Department of Planning and Community Development, Office of Senior Victorians has been given lead responsibility for developing and maintaining this whole of government policy framework to prevent elder abuse. For further information refer to the Elder Abuse Prevention section of the Office of Senior Victorians website.

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