It could be your Mum or Dad, or you.  

Food insecurity doesn’t discriminate. For one person it’s the loss of a few shifts at work that becomes the breaking point that sends someone into poverty. For the person down the road from you, it could be an unexpected bill, a school expense, a family breakdown or serious illness. For your elderly neighbour it could be that they are the victim of Elder Abuse. 

Elder abuse is when a person causes harm or distress to an older person who has a relationship of trust with them – like an adult child, their partner or a carer. 

While the term Elder Abuse seems like a relatively new phrase, the heartless crime itself has been around for a long time. As with most types of abuse, Elder abuse can be very obvious or it can be very subtle and hard to spot. It can be a type of domestic and family violence, and can include physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, social abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. It can be short-lived, or it can be a pro-longed and planned method of control and manipulation. 

Some examples of Elder abuse include living in the older person’s home and refusing to help pay for expenses, or refusing to care for the older person after agreeing to. It can also be refusing to pay back loans or abusing Power of Attorney or stealing money or belongings from the older person, or forcing an older person to sign a Will, contract, Power of Attorney or Enduring Guardian appointment. 

Neglecting the older person, for example, failing to provide them with food or medical care is also classified as Elder abuse as is bullying, name-calling, verbal abuse, or treating an older person like a child. Physical abuse is also not uncommon, with pushing, shoving or being rough with an older person being classified as Elder abuse, as is any unwanted sexual contact. 

Financial scams targeting older people are also frequent, taking advantage of vulnerable people through identity theft, fraudulent payments for care or services that weren’t provided, Government impersonation scams and the list goes on.  

A report published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies in December 2021 found that a shocking 1 in 6 older Australians reported experiencing abuse, making Elder Abuse a very serious problem. 

Elder abuse has many far-reaching consequences, financially it can be completely crippling, even leading people to falling below the poverty line. Often going under-reported due to embarrassment or shame, Elder abuse can lead to individuals life savings being wiped out and those people having to struggle to make ends meet when they are at a very vulnerable stage in the lives, often not in a position to rebuild their lives.   

No matter how big or small the deception, it can leave older adults and their families financially and emotionally devastated. 

There are many misconceptions about what leads individuals to reach out for a helping hand at Foodbank, and everyone has their own story. We strive to be the safety net that people need when their lives take an unexpected turn, to ensure that they can keep a roof over their heads and their power on. If we can ensure that everybody has access to fresh and nutritious food, then those struggling in our communities have one less thing to worry about. 

Let’s catch them before they fall.