The Australian Response to Elder Abuse and Neglect: An Overview

Elder abuse is a complex social issue influenced by poor family dynamics, caregiving, personal circumstances and broader societal and cultural factors such as ageism. Elder abuse occurs in a range of settings, under different circumstances and to differing degrees. Abusive acts may be a continuation of long standing patterns of violence and physical, emotional or financial abuse within the family, or in response to a significant life event such as caregiving stress or challenging care recipient behaviours. There is no single explanation or cause for elder abuse and neglect which can affect older men and women across all socioeconomic groups, cultures and ethnicities. Part of the challenge in responding to elder abuse is that it can take many forms and is not always easy to detect. Addressing and preventing elder abuse involves improved knowledge of abuse indicators and prominent risk factors, and increased elder abuse screening, detection and prevention mechanisms across settings. This chapter discusses contemporary policy frameworks, legislation, and national and local responses to elder abuse within Australia.