1. Supporting Older People in Exercising and Protecting Their Rights—Insights from the ALRC’s Elder Abuse Inquiry ARAS WEAAD Conference Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, ALRC

2. Toronto Declaration
Preventing elder abuse in an ageing world is ‘everybody’s business’ Everybody’s responsibility

3. What is elder abuse?
‘a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person’
World Health Organization, The Toronto Declaration on the Global Prevention of Elder Abuse (2002).

4. What is elder abuse?
Commonest kind = financial abuse – 40% most commonly reported abuse
Commonest abusers = children in their 50s
Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), Elder Abuse: Understanding Issues, Frameworks and Responses (2016)

5. Framing principles
Dignity and autonomy – the right to live self-determined lives
Protecting and safeguarding – reducing risk, ensuring response, improving redress

6. But, remember carers 2015: 2.7 million unpaid carers Average age = 55
2009, for people aged 65+ needing care:
24% of primary carers = adult sons or daughters living with parent

7. But.....
‘someone’s got to do something!’

8. Our 3 Rs
Reduce risk Ensure response Provide avenues for redress

9. The recommendations

10. Aged care Establishing a serious incident response scheme
Suitability of staff
Regulating restrictive practices
National guidelines for community visitors

11. Enduring appointments
Safeguards against misuse include:
choice as to scope
support will, preferences and rights
enhance witnessing

12. Family agreements ‘Assets for care’ often informal and verbal
problems if they break down

13. Family agreements Recommendations: civil & admin tribunal jurisdiction
use Centrelink ‘leverage’

14. Safeguarding adults at risk
Recommendations:
introduce adult safeguarding laws
For those who
need care and support
are being abused or neglected or at risk
cannot protect themselves

15. National Plan Goals: promoting the autonomy and agency of older people
addressing ageism and promoting community understanding of elder abuse
achieving national consistency

16. National Plan safeguarding at-risk adults and improving responses; and
building the evidence base.

17. Outcomes
Everybody’s business ....
Everybody’s responsibility

18. Finding and following ALRC work