This report provides a broad analysis of the issues raised by elder abuse in the Australian context. Elder abuse—which involves the physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse or neglect of an older person by another person in a position of trust—presents a range of complex challenges for the Australian community.
Although solid evidence about prevalence in Australia is lacking, the incidence of elder abuse will certainly increase as Australia’s “baby boomer” generation reaches old age, with increased life expectancy meaning that the aged will, in coming years, comprise a greater proportion of the population than ever before.
Fundamentally a human rights issue, responses to the management and prevention of elder abuse sit within a range of complex policy and practice structures across different levels of government, and various justice system frameworks within the private sector and across non-government organisations.
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