The Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) has told the NSW Parliamentary Enquiry into elder abuse that more funding for research was needed as there were significant gaps in knowledge of elder abuse, the risk factors and how best to respond to it. Successive federal government have failed to invest in a national elder abuse strategy, so authorities are in the dark as to the scale of the issue or which prevention and intervention strategies work best, researchers and support agencies have warned.
It is agreed that a national approach to elder abuse is urgently needed, consolidating the various work being done by state-based agencies, as the scourge of elder abuse will likely escalate with the ageing population and the Federal Government’s expansion of home-based care services.
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Great article Lynn, it’s sad but the term “funding” and the lack of it in aged care seems to be universal. Funding for research, funding for entertainment and health care, and many others seem to be getting cut so the savings can go into more developments of larger facilities so more $$$’s can be made to expand further… But to use the profits for the poor old souls who essentially are paying to get very little in return is atrocious and I believe it needs to change from director and board level in these multi-million dollar organisations… They might be classed as “NFP” but they’re making millions, but the seniors don’t see it… It’s really sad, and something NEEDS to be done in the near future I believe to bring this to the forefront of the governments minds.