Inheritance impatience fuels an alarming rise in elder abuse reports

Alarming figures from the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission reveal elder abuse is on the rise with an increase in the number of calls and reports it receives every year.

Last year, its Helpline received more than 14,025 calls, which is a 12 per cent increase from the previous year, and 4258 reports about alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older person or adult with disability.

Seventy-five per cent of those reports involved an older person and most related to financial and psychological abuse by a family member - generally adult children.

On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, the Commission wants to raise awareness about abuse, and how to get support.

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An ageing population means we are seeing an emerging phenomenon of a range of risk factors, including inheritance impatience.

The United Nations predicts the ageing population will more than double over the next three decades. In NSW nearly one in four people will be over 60 years old by 2031.

Acting commissioner Kathryn McKenzie said adult children were waiting much longer for the wealth transfer to occur - about five to 10 years - and were becoming impatient.

"Longer life expectancies, a delay in the transfer of wealth through to the next generation and a cost of living crisis is resulting in this phenomenon we see called inheritance impatience. That is then leading to more cases of financial and psychological abuse of older people," she said.

Although the abuse of older people has always been prevalent, there is a lot more awareness that it is a real problem and people are starting to speak up when they spot the signs.

"We need to keep talking and raise more awareness about this in our communities, it will encourage more people to come forward and get help."

Signs of abuse can include the older person no longer having access to their bank account or being able to freely spend their own money, being prevented from speaking to or seeing family and friends, or being prevented from receiving the services they need to live.

The National Aged Care Advocacy Program serves as a crucial support system for older people at risk of abuse or currently experiencing mistreatment.

In Victoria, Elder Rights Advocacy delivers the program to help thousands of older people and their representatives by providing essential information and advocacy regarding aged care rights.

Advocates conduct information and education sessions for older people in Victoria and industry stakeholders, raising awareness on identifying and addressing elder abuse.

To learn more about Elder Rights Advocacy's services, visit www.era.asn.au or call on 1800-700-600.

COTA Tasmania invites people to join its annual Walk Against Elder Abuse in Launceston, Burnie or Hobart on June 15. Register at cotatas.org.au

In Queensland, Mackay Senior Citizens Centre will host the purple-themed Stir a Cuppa For Seniors on June 14 from 9.30-11.30am. elderabuseawarenessday.org.au/event_listing_type/stir-a-cuppa

In Victoria, Nillumbik Shire Council is raising awareness of elder abuse through a series of free information sessions with guest speakers from Seniors Rights Victoria on June 17. elderabuseawarenessday.org.au/event/other-weaad-events-protecting-your-rights

In an emergency call 000 or the National Elder Abuse Helpline 1800-353-374.

NSW: NSW Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline on 1800-628-221 (Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm) for information, support or to make a report. You can also be anonymous; adc.nsw.gov.au.

Victoria: Seniors Rights Victoria 1300-368-821.

South Australia: 1800 372 310, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm for information, support or to make a report to the Adult Safeguarding Unit, or by emailing adultsafeguardingunit@sa.gov.au

Western Australia: Elder Abuse Helpline on 1300-724-679, Legal Aid WA Infoline on 1300-650-579.

Queensland: Queensland Elder Abuse Helpline 1300-651-192.

Tasmania: www.elderabuse.tas.gov.au, 1800-441-169.