More resources are needed to help prevent elder abuse, including against senior citizens from migrant and refugee backgrounds, according to two organisations based in Melbourne’s north and west.
Both AMES Australia and cohealth have made submissions to a state government-appointed committee that is conducting an inquiry on support for older Victorians from culturally diverse backgrounds.
A report from the committee is due to be tabled in Parliament during June 2022.
AMES – which is located in suburbs including Werribee, Melton and St Albans – provides services to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
In a submission to the inquiry committee, AMES chief executive Catherine Scarth wrote that “staff frequently encounter older migrant and refugee women who face verbal abuse, neglect, disrespect and financial exploitation”.
“Without high-level English language skills, many older Victorians are more vulnerable to elder abuse,” the statement read.
The submission stated that basic levels of financial literacy in English might be enough to prevent many cases of financial elder abuse.
To help combat elder abuse, AMES recommended that education providers should recognise the needs of older Victorians to acquire core skills that mitigate the likelihood of exploitation; improved translation services and access to financial literacy materials in different languages; and awareness campaigns to inform older migrants and refugees of their rights.
cohealth, a not-for-profit community health service that works across the north and west of Melbourne, also highlighted elder abuse as an issue.
The cohealth inquiry submission read: “Elder abuse is a serious problem across the community but is compounded for older people who are reliant on family members due to language and cultural expectations.”
The submission stated that service providers need to be alert for the signs of elder abuse.
For assistance, contact Seniors Rights Victoria on 1300 368 821 or visit https://seniorsrights.org.au/
By Alesha Capone
