News and presentations from today's conference chaired by Ian Donaghy Keynote Speaker, Conference Host, Trainer, Author of Dear Dementia, The Missing Peace & A Pocketful of Kindness
Safeguarding Older Adults from Abuse and Neglect
Richard Robinson Chief Executive Officer
Hourglass
• the reality of the abuse of older people
• why do we need to revisit adult safeguarding practice in older adults?
• breaking down the barriers that foster age-related vulnerability
Hourglass is the UKs only 24/7 helpline for older people, family and practitioners struggling with abuse. This includes financial/economic abuse, physical, sexual or psychological abuse, many also suffer abuse due to neglect. Richard said 1 in 5 will experience some form of abuse in a given year. They receive 15000 calls a year and deal with 8000 cases, of these more than half relate to financial abuse. The average age is 75 and the majority are female, most are abused by a family member or close relative or friend. 20% of callers are victims, 80% are concerned family, friends or practitioners. Richard discussed the impact of abuse, the most severe being premature death, often through suicide. Elder abuse is not getting the same government attention as children and animals, in fact grouse shooting was mentioned far more by the government than elder abuse. Richard said a lot of work needs to be done to bring safeguarding older people services up to date and in line with other services.
The Impact of Covid-19 on Adult Safeguarding in Older Adults
Dr Sarah Donnelly Assistant Professor of Social Work
School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice,University College Dublin
• assessing how the pandemic has affected older people and their families
• understanding how the response to Covid-19 can shape future adult
social care and safeguarding activity
• implications for safeguarding older adults
• good practice principles outlined in the 2022 National Guidance ‘Revisiting
Safeguarding Practice’
• developing and sharing best practice solutions that have developed in
response to Covid-19
Sarah said elder abuse is a distinct social problem, she said the impact of Covid-19 on older people highlights this. The pandemic and resulting restrictions brought increased risks especially for the older population living alone or in care homes which demonstrates many existing inequalities. There has been a significant strain on care provision including cuts to social care budgets, the increasing number of older people with complex and unmet needs, and long-term underinvestment in staff pay, training and retention. WHO estimates that older people in care homes made up 50% of all Covid-19 related deaths in Europe.
Sarah concluded her presentation with reflections, saying:
- we need to challenge the inability of policy makers, social workers and care providers to conceptualise that rights 'belong' to older people
- there needs to be less variation in human rights
- there needs to be collective action by older people - where is there voice?