Recently (2005) Housing for the Aged Action Group and the Older Persons Action Centre co-hosted a meeting to hear about the Elder Abuse Prevention Project.
The project is being co-ordinated by the Office of Senior Victorians and is chaired by ex-senator Barney Cooney.

The meeting was well attended with the issue of elder abuse in housing and care raised along with a range of other forms of violence.
Some of the examples raised were; Physical Violence which includes unlawful confinement or restraint and the under or over use of medication on an older person; Psychological and Emotional Abuse includes threats of physical violence, verbal intimidation and humiliation, threats to institutionalize, restricting access to friends, family and social activities; Financial or Economic Abuse includes illegal or improper use of an older person's finances or property.
May include theft of money or property, forced change of wills or forging signatures on banking accounts or other documents; Neglect may include the failure of a carer to provide basic necessities for a person including food, shelter, medical attention and personal care; Systemic Abuse includes failure of Government's to provide adequate housing and health care thus placing many older people in vulnerable situations. Also includes negative community attitudes towards ageing which contribute to the incidence of violence and abuse of older people.

The Office of Senior Victorians will be releasing a discussion paper in late July and will conduct a number of forums during August and September.

If you would like more information about the project please contact
Zoe Naughton, Office of Senior Victorians, on 9208 3855.