Shining a light on elder abuse
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, held annually on 15 June, provides a timely reminder to recognise the impact of elder abuse on individuals, families, and the broader community.
To commemorate the day, the City of Subiaco hosted an event that featured a panel of experts on Thursday 28 May, including representatives from Legal Aid, Advocare, and the Older People’s Rights.
Elder abuse can be defined as any act within a relationship of trust which results in harm to an older person. It can take many forms, including emotional, psychological, cultural, or financial (being the most common).
Older People’s Rights advocates Judy Joukador and Sherryl Potts contributed to the City’s panel event to share helpful advice for people and families who have lived experience, or are currently experiencing forms of elder abuse.
“Older people are treated differently. For example, we become invisible as we grow our grey hair – it’s almost like we disappear from view,” Judy said.
“This leads to being excluded or ignored. The long-term effect of that is that you feel dehumanised, without value, and that starts to eat away at the confidence that older people have.”
“People need to understand that we’re living longer now than we did a few generations ago. It’s important for people to understand that we can keep contributing for many years, even particularly after people have retired,” Sherryl said.
“Just because we’re older, doesn’t mean that we’re not valuable.”
Judy and Sherryl’s advice is clear; speak up, reach out, and ask for support if it’s needed.
“The most important thing we’ve got to do is develop a language where people are free to speak, and free to talk about how it’s affecting them. If we don’t talk about it, people feel ashamed and they won’t reach out,” Judy said.
“Our rights don’t diminish as we get older. We do have the right to be seen, to be heard, to be listened to, to have knowledge, and for our concerns and needs to be acted upon,” Sherryl agreed.
Mayor David McMullen said, “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day provides an important opportunity to shine light on an issue that is often hidden from view, but has a profound impact on older people, their families, and our community.
“Every person deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued as they age – and by raising awareness of elder abuse and encouraging open conversations, we at the City can help ensure older people know their rights, recognise the signs of abuse, and feel empowered to seek support if or when they need it.”
Judy and Sherryl feature in a video created by the City of Subiaco, which features teenagers and young people sharing quotes from individuals with lived experience of elder abuse in efforts to challenge assumptions about who is affected by elder abuse, and educate the community on common warning signs.
The City is hosting another event focused on elder abuse awareness, on Wednesday 17 June, with Subiaco Justice Centre. Held at Subiaco Library from 9.30am, this free presentation will explore why advance planning matters as we age. Visit www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/events to register, and visit the City’s website for information on local support services including Elder Rights WA, Advocare, Council of the Ageing, and more.