Cracking down on elder abuse

This followed an Elder Abuse Prevalence Study in 2021 which found one in six older Australians reported experiencing abuse in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.

Senior solicitor at the Elder Abuse Service (EAS) Mary Lovelock said perpetrators are most often family members like children or grandchildren who take advantage.

She said the most common abuse is a “granny flat” arrangement where the older person has given a significant sum of money to a child in return for the promise of care.

“We have had several clients come to us with this issue who are on the verge of homelessness,” she said.

It can cause significant financial and mental stress for already vulnerable people.