Online Training
What is Older Person Abuse?
Every older person has the right to:
- Control and access their own money
- Choose to see family and friends when they want to
- Attend appointments without another person present
- Have access to clean clothing, food and their own medication
Everyone has the right to feel safe and be treated with dignity and respect in their own home and within their community.
Unfortunately, some older people’s rights are not respected and they are not safe. This is called older person abuse.
Older person abuse is defined as a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to another person.
Older person abuse can include:
- Physical
- Psychological or emotional
- Sexual
- Financial
- Neglect – intentional or unintentional
An expectation of trust includes a family member, a friend, a neighbour, a carer, or a professional (such as a GP).
Using this definition older person abuse does not include crimes that are committed by a stranger, such as theft by a bag snatcher or a sales scam.
Please watch the video below before moving onto the next lesson.
