“Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” June World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Thursday 15 th June 2006

Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” June Cultural and Economic factors that may affect the risk of elder abuse include: The depiction of older people as frail, weak and dependent Erosion of the bonds between generations of a family Restructuring of the basic support networks for the elderly Migration of young couples to other areas (World Health Organisation 2002)

Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” Elder abuse is increasingly being seen as an important problem It is predicted that by 2025 the global population of those aged 60 and older will more than double – from 542 million to 1.2 billion (World Health Organisation 2002) June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection

Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” June Up until the last quarter of a century, abuse of the elderly remained a private matter, today it is increasingly being seen as an important problem and one that is likely to grow Evidence shows that between 4% and 6% of elderly people have experienced some form of abuse in the home

Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” June The elderly are also at risk of abuse in institutions, such as hospitals, nursing homes and other long- term care facilities The consequences of abuse for older people can be especially serious because their bones are more brittle and convalescence takes longer

June Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” While some countries include abuse of the elderly under their legal statutes and have fully developed systems for reporting and treating cases of abuse, others have a much more limited response.

June Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” In general countries that deliver services to abused, neglected or exploited older people have done so through the existing health and social services network.

June Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” Within institutions abuse is more likely to occur where care standards are low, staff are poorly trained or overworked and interactions between staff and residents are difficult, the physical environment is deficient and policies can operate in the interests of the institution rather than of the residents

June Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” In some low-income countries, local projects have been established to help older people plan programmes and develop their own services. However, few intervention programmes for abused elders are housed in hospital settings and many doctors do not diagnose abuse because it is not part of their training

June Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” How do Gloucester City and Cheltenham compare around the world with its twin cities?

June Metz, France There is a very high suicide rate among the over 65s. Gloucestershire Nearly 50% of referrals are for elderly people in vulnerable situations. Weihai, China The proportion of people aged 60 or older in China will rise from 7% now to 11.8% in 2020 Sochi, Russia Life expectancy is now 58yrs for men and 72yrs for women. In rural areas people over 60 live alone St Ann’s, Jamaica 52% of the senior citizens over 60 are women. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” June Population Gloucestershire – 572,791 France – 60,876,136 Jamaica – 2,758,124 China – billion Russia – 142,893,540

June Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” Metz - France St Ann - Jamaica Weihai - China Sochi - Russia Gloucestershire

Metz, France ~ twinned with Gloucester City Since the heat wave in 2003 the government has created an improved programme to improve medical care and welfare of elderly people and the disabled. The family are expected to care for their ageing parents, if not it is seen as a crime and can be fined if they fail to do so. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

Weihai, China ~ twinned with Cheltenham Chinese tradition is that young people support and take care of elderly members of families, and they pay for medical needs or care. There are also volunteers who care on a 1:1 basis, but it is an increasing challenge to cope with the increasing aged population. There is a state pension but the work pension has recently been reduced from 11% to 8%. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

Sochi, Russia ~ twinned with Cheltenham From 1992 to 2000 the population has declined by 3m. Russia is in decline in its social care. Outside the big cities there is a crumpled framework of despair, deep insecurity, poverty and shame. Alcohol, heavy smoking and TB are major factors of ill health in the elderly. Life expectancy is now 58yrs for men and 72yrs for women. In rural areas people over 60 live alone. Red Cross nurses provide a very stretched home call service. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

St Ann’s, Jamaica ~ twinned with Gloucester City The National Council for Senior Citizens provide Clubs doing craftwork. Caring projects are organised in parishes who provide meals and day care at home and in ‘shut-ins’. There are also educational seminars on benefits and services for the elderly. 52% of the senior citizens over 60 are women. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

Gloucestershire Nearly 50% of referrals are for elderly people in vulnerable situations. Older people are most at risk of abuse from neglect in the county, with approximately 40% of referrals falling into this category. Incidents of physical and financial abuse are also high. These ratios are mirrored nationwide. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

What does Gloucestershire Offer? Gloucestershire was one of the first counties in the UK to develop Adult Protection Procedures. These were initiated in the early 1990s. Since then most other areas have followed Gloucestershire's lead and developed their own procedures. In 2000 the Government launched "No Secrets", a policy document that details how they expect vulnerable adults to be protected from abuse and neglect in England. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

What does Gloucestershire Offer? Referrals to our Adult Protection Unit (which coordinates a adult protection work) average over 450 each year. Numbers have been rising since the Procedures were launched. Older people are most frequently referred. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

What does Gloucestershire Offer? In light of the rising phenomenon of elder abuse a review of the county’s multi agency Adult Protection Policy and Procedures has been launched. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

What does Gloucestershire Offer? One of the aims is to broaden ownership of the process and engage with communities, another is to promote empowerment and self-determination to minimise the risk of vulnerability. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

What does Gloucestershire Offer? There will be an increasing focus upon early intervention and preventative work. June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection. Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”

June 2006www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adultprotection Action on Elder Abuse “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect” Action on Elder Abuse Help to stop it

. Gloucestershire a better place to live, work and learn. “Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect”