Elder abuse comes in many forms. One of those is an older person being pressured into doing something they don’t want to do.
The Age Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, Dr Kay Patterson, said, “We all want a good life. We want our rights to be respected and to be valued for the unique individuals we are. We want to live in a safe and comfortable environment and in communities where we look out for each other.”
Sadly, this is not happening for some older people. They are not being respected. Their wishes are not being listened to. They are being manipulated to do something they don’t want to do.
In this article we explore:
- how to identify this form of elder abuse
- signs of an older person being pressured
- who perpetrates elder abuse?
- elder abuse prevention services in Melbourne
Armed with this knowledge, we can help stamp out elder abuse.
Please note, As of August 2023, the Victorian Government is defunding 70% of the elder abuse specialist positions in Victoria. For referrers and enquiries about the integrated model of care (IMOC) service ceasing mid-August 2023, Better Place Australia can provide Elder Abuse Specialist Services through Orange Doors in the following local government areas (LGA). Click here for more details.
How can I identify an older person being pressured?
Senior Rights Victoria puts it this way: “Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust.”
This includes an older person being pressured into doing something they don’t want to do.
It can be hard to tell if an older person is being pressured because this form of abuse can be invisible. For example, the Centre for Better Relationships, says, “Coercive control is an invisible abuse which affects an older person mentally and/or emotionally. It is a form of family violence that often goes unnoticed due to its subtle nature. It could be words that manipulate or actions that deprive the older person of their ability to make their own decisions.”
The way to identify an older person being pressured in this way is to look at the outward signs.
What are the signs of an older person being pressured?
Some older people experiencing this abuse will talk to someone they trust about it. Others will not say anything because they want to maintain a level of peace and harmony, they don’t want the problem to escalate, they feel ashamed or are in denial about it. If an older person you know is experiencing elder abuse in the form of being pressured, you will normally see signs in their behaviour.
This can be:
- silence
- depression
- anger
- headaches
- exhaustion
- retreating
- no longer feeling happy about life
Some examples of pressure an older person experiences from someone they know and trust include:
- to obtain access to their finances or assets
- to change their will or sign a power of attorney
- neglect or isolation if they don’t give in
Who would be causing an older person to experience this distress?
Who perpetrates elder abuse?
Elder abuse in the form of pressure and coercion is often perpetrated by a family member, Carer or someone else in a position of trust. This has been a consistent observation through Australian data and studies.
It’s important to note that this pressure can be intentional or unintentional.
Some people are aware of their actions.
Some can be genuinely unaware that the pressure they’re putting on an older person is elder abuse.
The person could be pressuring the older person because:
- they care about the older person
- they may think the older person could be at risk
- they may think it is the best solution for the older person’s situation
- they may think the older person is unable to make sound decisions
The perpetrators actions may be depriving the older person of their right to live their own life, to be socially connected and make their own decisions. Older people are most vulnerable when they are isolated, dependent and have health issues. By becoming more aware of elder abuse, our community can identify older people at risk of elder abuse and assist them to connect to support services.
Watch Pearl share her story of being abused by people she knew and trusted.
Elder abuse prevention services in Melbourne
If you are an older person being pressured against your wishes or know an older person who is experiencing this, services like Better Place Australia and Seniors Rights Victoria can provide information and advice. Being informed about the services that are available, can be a great help to an older person, but remember not to take over or make all the decisions.
If you suspect an older person is being pressured, try asking questions. The earlier you approach this, the better. Listen to the person’s story. Freely talk about the situation to help make sense of what is happening. Judgement or criticism may stop an older person sharing important information.
Take the abuse seriously. It can be hard for people to share what is happening. An older person is more likely to downplay the abuse, rather than make it up or exaggerate.
Supporting the older person to stay connected and increase safety, is the best thing you can do. It is recommended to involve a professional person if the older person agrees.
Better Place Australia Elder Abuse Prevention Services in Melbourne and across Victoria have supported over 1000 people and their families. You can contact a support service like Better Place Australia to discuss the situation by calling 1800 214 117.
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