A booklet that provides practical steps to reduce elder abuse was launched recently by the Commissioner for Senior Victorians, Gerard Mansour.
More than 50 people attended the launch of Concerned About an Older Person in late November at the Colac Bowling Club.
The booklet will be distributed to people who call the Seniors Rights Victoria helpline. ‘Half the people who call the helpline are concerned about someone they know,’ said Seniors Rights Victoria Manager Jenny Blakey.
‘A quarter of callers are service providers, and the rest are experiencing elder abuse from a family member or some other person who is close to them.
The booklet includes information on:
- what is elder abuse
- signs that someone may be experiencing elder abuse
- what you can do if someone you know is experiencing elder abuse
- preparing a plan to ensure the person is safe
- answers to common questions, including if the older person does not want to involve services or the police
- what to do if the person is from a diverse community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTIQA+ or from a rural area.
To order copies of the booklet, contact askcota@cotavic.org.au or phone 1300 13 50 90.