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ABUSE VICTIMS OVER the age of 65 are most likely to suffer at the hands of their sons or daughters, according to the HSE’s annual report on vulnerable adults.
The HSE’s National Safeguarding Office recorded a total of 10,118 abuse concerns last year. This represents a 28% increase in the number of concerns raised.
The figures are based on data reported to the HSE’s Safeguarding and Protection Teams in Community Healthcare Organisations.
For people over the age of 65 the most significant categories of alleged abuse were psychological and financial and the abuser was most likely to be a son or a daughter.
Sexual abuse accounted for 5% of concerns for over 65s and 4% for the over 80s.
The report found that financial abuse and neglect increase with age and the highest number of incidents occur to people who are more than 80-years-old.
Women are more likely to suffer abuse across all age categories however the number of men suffering from abuse increases three-fold in the over 80s category.
Physical abuse was the most significant category of concern for adults under the of 65 and reports of psychological abuse were consistent across all ages.
When the Safeguarding and Protection Teams investigated the cases they found there were reasonable grounds for concern in half of the cases.
It is the second year that the Safeguarding Office has published an annual report. It notes that increasing public awareness, and the provision of training, has increased the number of concerns being notified to the service.
“The publication of the National Safeguarding Office Report 2017 indicates a significant increase in safeguarding concerns notified to the HSE over the past year,” Tim Hanly, the General Manager of the safeguarding office, said.
However there is still much work to be done on increasing awareness of abuse of older persons and persons with disability in Irish society.
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That’s our wonderful Western culture where we link our personal value to our ability to produce and consume. When that ability diminishes our value lowers.
@Tony Le Blanc: and specifically in Ireland to owning a house, people are terrified in this country of losing their house or job, because with that you’re perceived value as a “citizen” is stripped away and you’re treated like a criminal ir a nob citizen by social welfare services and dublin city council housing department.
@Diogenes: * non citizen
@Diogenes: nob citizen was better imo.
It’s only the tip of an iceberg..
So sad to hear this news just wondering if the perpetrators of our Financial collapse can sleep at night
@Johnny Mason:
Is their anything else you could blame bankers for? All forms of cancer maybe?
@Johnny Mason: My cat has just had kittens, those pesky bankers up to their old tricks again….What is the link between families abusing their elderly relatives and bankers?
@P.J. Nolan: Interesting (while at the sametime crass) point you raised there PJ. How much money has been paid out to the troika that could have gone to caring for people with cancer? How many people aren’t around any more simply because the money wasn’t there to pay for surgery, medication and basic healthcare. Ok the bankers weren’t 100% to blame for the financial disaster.. but they’re not 100% innocent either.
@pats brandon:
The banks conned the government and the Irish taxpayer to the tune of approximately 35 billion on the night of the bank guarantee and what’s almost worse, there has been little or no accountability for them since.
The problem is the fact we were spending 55 billion and only earning 35 was a far bigger problem. If it was just the banks we could have borrowed the 35 billion over a long time and while it would have been a major scandal, the effect on people on a day to day basis would be small.
The deficit was the reason things like health care got cut, but we all have to accept some responsibility for that so it’s easier to say it’s all the banks fault.
@Fergus Sheahan: ask your cat it probably knows more about it than you !
Shocking and disturbing report. Intra and Inter Family Abuse in all its forms is somewhat the elephant in the room in this country. And camouflaged by the abuses more widely evident- albeit, equally inexcusable – in other areas. Past time to reflect on whats happening closer to ” home” .
Thats why the auld farmers back in tbe day kept the will in their pocket along with a fountain pen at all times!
All it took was one witnessed stroke and you were cut out!
@Michael Kavanagh:
I hope you haven’t given up the day job for a stand up routine.
@P.J. Nolan:
Not likely!
For that, you’re cut out!
Now where’s that pen !?!
@Michael Kavanagh:
Too late, I was cut out many years ago because I wouldn’t stay on the family farm!
So so shocking that this goes on! It is hard to your head around that one human can do this to another, especially an older person . What is wrong with us all? After all this is the la nd of lovely welcoming people is it not?
True, financial Abuse is one of the most common forms of abuse , the Celtic tiger has killed off empathy!
@William Bryan:
Agreed, I said something similar on a different topic recently, before the celtic Tiger when you had nothing you didn’t begrudge someone getting a hand up but once we got a taste of money it was every one for themselves.
How in GOD’s name could you raise your voice let alone a finger or hand on the person that played a part in your upbringing, ( even if “they” were not a part of it ), How Could you even do such a thing to an elderly person, Period..? Its been said about all walks of life time & time again, that these people are all sorts of nasty so & so’s… But to hit out physically at another human being, ( even animals ) is Totally against the Law and here in Ireland the law of the land will most probably be overturned, more or less, by the Laws of the Catholic Church as in GOD Fearing deeply religious People, The way Ireland USED to be fock knows how long ago..The point is: We as a Country Faught for 10′s of Centuries just to Practice Our Faith, Well may GOD be merciful on the few who upset HIM…!
@Michael Kelly: OKAY!
@Michael Kelly: Agreed with u totally until u brought THE CHURCH into it…. by the end of your rant I realised u were just another one wanting 2 go on and on complaining about the church when this article had nothing to do with the church !!!
None of these agencies that are meant to protect the elderly or disabled are fit for purpose!!!! I reported ongoing abuse to relevant agencies, the man in question even told the local guard, but nothing has been done!! He is still living in the same horrible situation 1 year later, and not a thing I can do.
Abuse in this country is a lot worse than the numbers they’ve reported. Even the mere mention of intimidation, financial abuse, etc etc should be enough for agencies to get involved with people who are disabled or elderly. They don’t.
This country has become an all round joke!
@Aine Foley: Agree completely. Even when there are witnesses to Elder Abuse, it is ignored. All it takes is a dishonest family member to spread lies to cover their tracks and misdirect the spotlight. Dementia sufferers are so vulnerable and not protected appropriately in this country.
A joke is right!
not surprised , At one time we didnt agree to killing unborn children . I still dont . People have become less loving caring sensitive ect ect . shame on you
@Elvis Polkasalad: You’re a broken record..
@Elvis Polkasalad: Shame on you Elvis. What a mean thing to say and we all only trying our best.
@Dotty Dunleary: A broken record that knows killing innocent healthy unborn children is wrong, as i said i am not surprised with how some people are treating our elderly when they show no respect for human life, anyone with a brain can link the 2 together, and the sad thing is its only going to get worse, whats even sadder is most people are so easily led that they will just follow the crowd. Try think for yourself for once
@Mark Gearey: unbelievable, so u are trying to justify treating the elderly like shit, shame on you
@Elvis Polkasalad: Another up on his soapbox…
its the catholic churches fault, everything else seems to be
Intergenerational inequality (most young people are much poorer than their parents were) has dehumanised people to the point that they see their parents’ deaths as a somewhat positive occurrence. A lot of people depend on it to get a home of their own nowadays because four times your salary gets you nothing.
Shocking.
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