Addressing elder abuse: Western Australian case study

Objective: To explore the extent of elder abuse in Western Australia and associated aspects, such as the relationship of the abuser to the victim, risk factors and desirable interventions, and current knowledge and use of relevant protocols. Methods: A mail-out questionnaire was sent to over 1000 organisations and 129 general practitioners (GPs). Recipients were asked to identify any known or suspected cases of elder abuse encountered during the previous 6 months. Results: The estimated prevalence of elder abuse was 0.58% (in individuals 60+ years). Females and those 75 years and older were more at risk than males or those younger. Financial abuse was the most common, and frequently more than one type of abuse was suffered by the same person. The main abusers were adult children or other relatives. Conclusion: The importance of education targeted at professionals, the general public and older people themselves was evident. Important direct interventions identified included respite care, advocacy and counselling.