A Commissioner would be part of a new overarching body with powers to receive reports, make enquiries, conduct investigations, and coordinate responses among existing services.
The Commissioner's role could be modelled on the state's Disability Commissioner and should be created in consultation with relevant stakeholders from the sector, the Institute said.
In its research paper, Safeguarding Against the Abuse of Older Tasmanians, the Institute analysed existing Tasmanian and Commonwealth laws and services, finding they do not currently provide a systematic or comprehensive legal framework that safeguards against the abuse of older people.